mm 


W^e  CHILDyg.  CHRIST 

A,H.  M^IOINNEY 


MgBBBgaggigllJII«l|ii|IIIIWIIIWP<WWIHMtilMl('HWg»«lliMMl«!i^^ 


BV  639  .C4  M3  1902 
McKinney,  A.  H.  1858-1941 
The  child  for  Christ 


THE  CHILD  FOR  CHRIST 


The  Child  for  Christ 


A  Manual  for  Parents,  Pastors 
and  Sunday -School  Work- 
ers, interested  in  the  Spiri- 
tual    Welfare    of    Children 


/ 


BY 


A.  H.  McKINNEY,  Ph.D. 

Superintendent  of  the  New  York  State 
Sunday-School  Association 


With  a  Prologue  by 

A.  F.  SCHAUFFLER,  D. 


D. 


Fleming  H.  Revell  Company 

New  York  Chicago  Toronto 


Copyright,    1902,   »y 
FLEMING   H.   REVELL    COMPANY 

Published  June  ^  igo2 


SECOND  EDIT/ON' 


Prologue 
by  a.  f.  schauffler,  d.  d. 

No  clean-cut  work  can  possibly  be  done, 
without  clean-cut  ideas.  Yet  there  are 
many  Sunday-school  teachers,  who  have 
only  very  vague  ideas  as  to  what  their  work 
really  should  aim  at.  In  general  their 
thought  is  that  they  are  **  trying  to  do 
good."  That  these  workers  do  some  good 
may  be  granted.  But  that  they  are  doing 
all  in  their  power,  no  one  would  claim. 

Because  of  these  vague  ideas  as  to  the 
proper  aim  of  the  Sunday-school  teacher, 
books  like  this  of  Dr.  A.  H.  McKinney  are 
much  to  be  desired.  It  needs  to  be  empha- 
sized a  thousand  times,  that  the  aim  of  the 
Sunday-school  teacher  is  not  merely  the  im- 
partation  of  Biblical  knowledge,  but  the 
formation  of  Christian  character.  All  that 
is  taught,  whether  it  be  historical,  or  bio- 
graphical, or  geographical,  must  be  sub- 
servient to  the  paramount  aim,  which  is  the 
5 


6  Prologue 

perfecting  of  character.  That  *'  Christ  may 
be  formed  in  the  scholar,  the  hope  of  glory," 
being  the  only  proper  goal  to  be  sought,  it 
follows  that  we  must  shape  all  our  efforts 
towards  securing  this  object. 

There  are  many  teachers,  however,  who 
have  this  paramount  aim  in  view,  but  who 
do  not  know  the  best  way  in  which  to  at- 
tain to  it.  They  are  not  well  informed  as 
to  the  peculiarities  of  child  nature.  They 
do  not  know  just  what  truths  to  present  at 
different  times  in  the  development  of  the 
scholar.  For  all  such  teachers,  it  seems  to 
me  that  this  book  will  be  simply  invaluable. 
Its  well  considered  statements  and  defini- 
tions, its  clear  presentation  of  the  results  to 
be  reached,  and  its  sensible  suggestions  as 
to  the  **  how  "  of  the  presentation  of  the 
vital  truths  of  the  word,  are  excellent.  Dr. 
McKinney  has  had  quite  unusual  advan- 
tages in  the  preparation  of  this  book.  For 
many  years  he  was  the  pastor  and  superin- 
tendent of  a  large  Sunday-school  in  New 
York  City,  and  now  for  the  past  three 
years  he  has  been  the  superintendent  of  the 
New  York  State  Sunday-school  Association, 


Prologue  7 

and  has  met  many  hundreds  of  the  most 
earnest  workers  of  the  Empire  State.  He 
has  discussed  the  themes  presented  in  his 
book  with  large  numbers  of  those  who 
have  gathered  in  state  and  county  conven- 
tions, and  has  learned  of  their  difficulties 
and  successes.  This  book,  therefore,  is 
not  the  outcome  of  study  merely,  but  of 
large  observation  and  experience.  The 
writer  has  read  and  reread  it,  much  to  his 
own  profit,  and  commends  it  in  the  warm- 
est manner  to  all  who  are  interested  in  se- 
curing the  largest  and  the  highest  results  in 
the  work  in  the  Sunday-school  field. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE. 

I.      HISTORICAL,           -            -            -            -  II 

II.  SOME     BIBLE     FACTS     CONCERNING 

CHILD  CONVERSION,              -            -  l8 

III.  CHILD    CONVERSION:   WHAT    IT   IS 

NOT,        -----  27 

IV.  CHILD  CONVERSION  I    WHAT  IT  IS,    -  35 
V.      WHY  LEAD  THE  CHILD  TO  CHRIST  ?  46 

VI.  PREPARATION    FOR    LEADING     THE 

CHILD  TO  CHRIST,     -  -  "53 

VII.  HOW  TO  BRING     THE      CHILD     TO 

CHRIST?             -            -            -            -  61 

VIII.       DECISION  DAY,                  -            -            -  69 

IX.       CHILD  DISCIPLESHIP,                   -            "  7^ 

X.       CHILD  DISCIPLESHIP CONTINUED,  89 

XI.       THE  worker's  PRIVILEGE,     -            -  I02 

XII.      BIBLIOGRAPHY,    -            -            -            -  112 


I 

Historical 

As  a  pastor,  the  writer  had  ample  oppor- 
tunity to  note  the  results  of  earnest  effort 
put  forth  to  bring  the  child  early  to  Christ. 
For  three  years  he  has  been  travelling  over 
the  state  of  New  York,  investigating  the 
work  of  the  Sunday-schools  with  the  result 
that  the  impression  has  deepened,  that 
greater  efforts  should  be  put  forth  to  bring 
young  children  to  Jesus  Christ.  The  fol- 
lowing narration  of  facts  will  help  others 
to  understand  why  this  little  book  is  given 
to  Christian  workers. 

One  morning  the  writer  came  to  the  office 
of  the  New  York  State  Sunday-school  As- 
sociation and  was  requested  by  the  chair- 
man of  the  state  executive  committee  to 
visit  a  gentleman  who  had  on  his  soul  a 
burden,  which  was  as  follows: 

The   burdened  one  had  figured  out  that 

the  Sunday-school  life  of  the  average  pupil 
II 


12  The  Child  for  Christ 

is  ten  years,  that  in  the  State  of  New  York 
for  a  series  of  years  prior  to  1900,  about 
twenty  per  cent,  of  the  members  of  our  Sun- 
day-schools confessed  Christ  while  mem- 
bers of  the  school,  and  that  about  another 
twenty  per  cent,  confess  Christ  after  they 
leave  the  Sunday-school.  This  leaves  sixty 
per  cent,  of  the  great  army  which  constantly 
passes  through  our  Sunday-schools  who 
never,  so  far  as  can  be  learned,  confess 
Jesus  Christ.  In  other  words,  three-fifths 
of  those  who  are  members  of  the  Sunday- 
schools  of  the  State  of  New  York  seem  to 
go  down  to  Christless  graves.  This  does 
not  take  into  account  the  500,000  nominal 
Protestants  of  school  age  in  New  York 
State  who  are  not  enrolled  as  members  of 
Sunday-schools.  The  question  that  was 
placed  on  the  heart  of  him  who  made  this 
calculation  was  this:  What  can  be  done  to 
arouse  pastors,  Bible-teachers  and  parents 
to  such  efforts  for  the  conversion  of  chil- 
dren, that  these  figures  shall  be  changed  ? 
I  left  this  gentleman  with  a  part  of  his  bur- 
den on  my  own  soul,  and  the  next  morn- 
ing started  on  a  trip,  which  ended  in  the 


Historical  13 

First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Binghampton, 
where  the  New  York  State  Sunday-school 
Association  was  to  begin  its  annual  conven- 
tion on  the  following  day. 

Strung  above  the  platform  in  large,  red 
letters  was  the  motto:  "The  Children 
FOR  Christ."  Inquiry  disclosed  the  fact 
that  the  local  committee  had  not  been  in 
communication  with  the  gentleman  in  New 
York  above  referred  to,  but  that  they  had 
selected  this  motto  as  the  most  appropriate 
one  for  the  gathering.  During  the  three 
days  of  that  convention  nearly  every 
speaker  referred  to  these  words,  so  that 
they  became  the  keynote  of  the  meeting, 
and  were  burned  into  the  very  being  of 
nearly  every  person  present. 

The  executive  committee  of  the  associa- 
tion, which  is  composed  of  men  and  women 
of  many  denominations  in  all  parts  of  the 
state,  gave  themselves  up  to  earnest  prayer 
in  order  to  learn  God's  will  in  regard  to  the 
question  which  confronted  them,  —  How 
may  more  members  of  the  Sunday-schools 
of  the  Empire  State  be  led  to  Christ  ? 

At  this  convention  was  an  old  gentleman, 


14  The  Child  for  Christ 

who  at  once  went  to  his  own  county  and 
began  to  talk  to  the  pastors  and  Bible-school 
workers  therein  on  the  subject  of  child  con- 
version. The  result  of  his  labors  was,  that 
a  three  days'  institute  was  arranged  for, 
with  three  sessions  on  each  day,  having  for 
its  object  the  consideration  of  this  most  im- 
portant subject:  How  shall  children  be 
brought  to  Christ  ? 

At  the  very  first  session  one  of  the  local 
pastors  approaching  the  writer,  said,  *'  You 
have  made  a  mistake  in  regard  to  your  pro- 
gram." On  being  asked  what  he  meant, 
he  declared  that  it  would  be  impossible  to 
hold  nine  sessions  of  an  institute  with  this 
one  thought  in  view.  He  imagined  that 
the  subject  would  be  exhausted  and  that 
the  delegates  would  be  tired  out  before  the 
three  days  had  passed.  He  was  asked  to 
be  patient,  and  at  the  conclusion  of  the  in- 
stitute he  realized  that  the  subject  was  such 
a  vast  one,  that  even  all  the  time  that  had 
been  devoted  to  its  consideration,  was  not 
sufficient  to  touch  upon  all  its  phases.  On 
the  afternoon  of  the  last  day,  the  old  gen- 
tleman who  had    been  the  instrument  in 


Historical  15 

stirring  up  the  interest  which  resulted  in 
the  institute,  told  his  experience  substan- 
tially as  follows  :  (It  is  with  his  consent 
that  it  is  given  here.) 

Eight  years  ago  I  took  sick  and  lay  at  the 
point  of  death.  My  physicians  had  given 
me  up.  I  was  willing  to  die,  I  was  ready 
to  die,  and  had  it  not  been  for  my  wife,  I 
would  have  been  glad  to  die.  God  in  His 
Providence  did  what  the  physicians  could 
not  do,  and  I  was  restored  to  health. 
When  I  got  better  my  wife  took  ill  and 
died.  Then  my  heart  was  crushed,  and  I 
lifted  it  to  God  saying,  "God,  what  does 
this  mean,  I  was  ready  to  die,  and  willing 
to  die,  and  you  spared  me,  and  now  you 
have  taken  my  wife,  and  I  have  nothing 
left,  what  does  this  mean?"  God  an- 
swered my  prayer  by  sending  me  back  into 
the  Sunday-school  from  which  I  was  retired 
by  my  illness.  I  was  given  a  class  of  nine 
boys  of  ages  from  eight  to  twelve  years.  I 
have  lived  to  see  eight  of  those  boys 
brought  to  confess  Christ,  and  one  of  them 
is  preparing  to  enter  the  ministry.  In  the 
course  of  time,  I  went  to  the  convention 


i6  The  Child  for  Christ 

held  at  Binghampton  last  June,  and  this  is 
the  happiest  day  of  my  life,  because  1  realize 
that  God  spared  me  to  do  something  to- 
wards the  bringing  of  children  to  Christ  in 
Delaware  County. 

The  above-mentioned  institute  is  a  speci- 
men of  what  has  been  done  in  many  places, 
as  the  result  of  this  most  spiritual  gather- 
ing at  Binghampton,  from  which  many 
went  forth  resolved  to  do  more  than  ever 
towards  bringing  the  little  ones  to  Jesus. 
Christ. 

A  visit  to  the  county  five  months  after 
the  holding  of  the  institute  convinced  the 
writer  that  much  good  resulted  from  it.  In 
several  places  large  accessions  of  young 
people  to  the  church  caused  rejoicing  on  the 
part  of  pastors  and  workers  who  but  a 
short  time  before  would  have  considered 
these  boys  and  girls  too  young  to  unite  with 
God's  people. 

The  following  pages  contain  the  gist  of 
the  addresses  given  and  conferences  held  in 
many  places  on  the  subject  :  The  Child  for 
Christ.  They  are  put  into  this  present  form 
and  sent  forth  with  the  prayer  that  many 


Historical 


17 


may  be  stimulated  to  do  what  has  al- 
ready been  done  by  a  few  to  their  own 
great  joy  and  to  the  everlasting  welfare  of 
the  CHILD. 


II 

Some  Bible  Facts  Concerning  Child  Con- 
version 

It  is  not  what  we  think  or  what  we 
hope,  but  what  the  Bible  says  that  should 
give  us  confidence  and  courage  in  dealing 
with  the  child.  Of  late  years,  the  church 
has  resumed  its  treatment  of  the  child  in 
accordance  with  the  teachings  of  the  Scrip- 
tures. We  will  consider  a  few  of  these 
teachings. 

I.  Some  Children  Were  Sanctified  at 
Their  Birth.  Attention  is  called  to  the  fol- 
lowing: 

Jeremiah.     See  Jeremiah  1-5. 

John  the  Baptist.     See  Luke  i  .  15. 

A  study  of  these  cases  should  enable  one 

to  answer  the  question:  How  young  may  a 

child    be    regenerated  ?     When    did  your 

daughter  become  a  Christian  ?  I  once  asked 

a  father.     "We  gave  her  to  the  Lord  at  her 

birth,"  was  the  answer.     Very  early  in  life 
18 


Some  Bible  Facts  19 

that  girl  gave  evidences  of  being  regener- 
ated. At  ten  she  publicly  confessed  Christ. 
She  has  never  backslidden  and  is  now  a 
missionary  in  a  foreign  land,  living  a  de- 
voted, self-sacrificing  Christian  life. 

II.  Some  Children  Serve  the  Lord  When 
Very  Young.  Of  especial  interest  are  the 
following: 

Samuel.    See  i  Samuel  2:  11,  18,  26. 
Josiah,   the    boy    King.      See    2    Kings 
22: 1,  2. 
Timothy.     See  2  Timothy  3:  14,  15. 

III.  No  One  Can  Enter  the  Kingdom 
Except  as  a  Little  Child.  The  disciples  of 
Jesus  had  their  own  conceptions  of  what 
the  kingdom  of  heaven  was  to  be,  and  who 
was  to  be  the  greatest  therein,  but  these 
conceptions  were  shown  to  be  false  when 
the  King  Himself  declared:  "  Except  ye  be 
converted,  and  become  as  little  children,  ye 
shall  not  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven." 
These  words  should  inspire  us  to  try  to  lead 
little  children  into  the  kingdom  and  to  en- 
courage and  help  them  in  the  kingdom.  It 
is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  Nicodemus 
found  it  extremely  difficult  to  understand 


20  The  Child  for  Christ 

the  truth,  that  with  all  his  experience  and 
learning  he  had  to  be  born  again,  and,  as  it 
were,  begin  all  over  again  like  a  little  child. 

IV.  Children  Are  Greatest  in  the  King- 
dom. What  a  wonderful  object  lesson  the 
great  preacher  delivered  not  only  for  His 
immediate  disciples  but  also  for  Christian 
workers  of  all  times,  when  in  answer  to  the 
question:  Who  is  the  greatest  in  the  king- 
dom of  heaven  ?  He  took  a  little  child  and 
put  him  in  the  midst  and  declared  that  that 
child  was  greatest  in  the  kingdom.  Matt. 
18:4. 

V.  There  is  Danger  of  Despising  These 
Little  Ones.  What  did  Jesus  mean  when 
He  declared,  "In  heaven  their  angels  do 
always  behold  the  face  of  My  father  which 
is  in  heaven  "  ?  It  is  difficult  to  give  an  ex- 
planation of  this  verse  that  will  suit  every- 
body. Perhaps  one  speaker  came  near  the 
truth  when  he  inelegantly  but  very  forcibly 
declared:  "That  means  that  the  little  chil- 
dren have  the  fi;bnt  seats  in  heaven." 

Alfred  Cookman  at  ten  years  of  age  was 
led  to  Jesus  Christ  by  a  Presbyterian  elder 
in  a  corner  of  a  Methodist  church  while  the 


Some  Bible  Facts  21 

officials  of  that  church  were  devoting  their 
energies  to  the  salvation  of  the  adult.  If 
the  little  fellow  was  not  despised,  he  was 
at  least  overlooked. 

A  revival  service  is  in  progress.  The 
power  of  God  is  manifested.  A  group  of 
penitents  kneel  at  the  altar.  At  one  end  is 
Sam  Green,  sixty-eight  years  old.  He  has 
been  serving  others  than  the  Great  Master 
all  his  life.  He  yields  and  truly  gives  his 
heart  to  God.  There  is  great  rejoicing  at 
the  wonderful  manifestation  of  power  in 
the  salvation  of  such  a  hardened  sinner. 
Willie,  his  grandson  of  eight,  kneels  at  the 
other  end  of  the  line  and  just  as  really  gives 
himself  to  God  as  does  his  grandfather,  but 
he  is  scarcely  noticed  because  he  is  only  a 
boy. 

The  next  day,  one  who  was  present  is 
telling  about  the  splendid  meeting.  Great 
emphasis  is  laid  on  the  fact  that  Sam  Green, 
sixty-eight  years  of  age,  was  converted.  In 
answer  to  questions,  the  narrator  tells  of 
others  who  yielded,  and  finally  is  asked: 
"Was  there  any  one  else?"  To  which 
question  the    answer  is:    "Willie   Green, 


22  The  Child  for  Christ 

Sam's  grandson,  said  he  was  converted,  but 
he  is  only  a  boy."  That  "only  a  boy!" 
One  might  exclaim:  Why!  it  means  more 
for  him  to  be  converted,  than  for  his  grand- 
father to  be  converted,  because  Sam  has  but 
a  few  years  to  live  and  serve  the  Lord  here. 
Nearly  all  of  his  life  has  been  wasted,  but 
if  Willie  lives  to  be  as  old  as  his  grand- 
father now  is,  he  will  have  sixty  years  in 
which  to  serve  the  Lord,  to  work  for  the 
advancement  of  the  kingdom  and  to  labor 
for  the  good  of  humanity. 

Thank  the  Lord,  such  a  picture  as  the  one 
drawn  in  the  foregoing  is  becoming  rarer 
and  rarer.  Thank  the  Lord,  they  who  say, 
''Only  a  boy,"  or,  "Only  a  girl"  when  a 
person  is  brought  to  Christ  belong  to  a  time 
that  is  fast  passing  away. 

VI.  There  is  Danger  of  Causing  the 
Little  Ones  to  Stumble.  Again  we  quote 
our  Saviour's  words,  "  Whoso  shall  receive 
one  such  little  child  in  My  name,  receiveth 
Me,  but  whoso  shall  offend  (r.  v.  cause  to 
stumble)  one  of  these  little  ones  which  be- 
lieve in  Me,  it  were  better  for  him  that  a 
millstone  were  hanged  about  his  neck  and 


Some  Bible  Facts  23 

that  he  was  drowned  in  the  depth  of  the 
sea"  (Matt.  18:  5,  6).  There  are  those 
who  are  familiar  with  this  verse,  who, 
nevertheless,  cause  the  little  ones  to  stum- 
ble. 

There  is  a  Christian  grandmother  who  de- 
mands that  her  eight-year  old  granddaugh- 
ter who  is  a  disciple  of  Jesus,  shall  lead  as 
consecrated  a  life  as  her  grandmother  does. 
Is  not  that  causing  the  little  one  to  stumble  ? 
Does  God  expect  as  much  from  eight  as  He 
does  from  fifty-eight  ?  Some  grandfathers 
who  have  named  the  name  of  Christ  de- 
mand more  of  their  grandsons  than  they 
themselves  yield.  Is  not  this  causing  the 
little  one  to  stumble  ? 

"I  thought  you  were  a  Christian.  A 
pretty  church  member  you  are,"  sneeringly 
exclaims  a  mother  to  her  child  who  has  con- 
fessed Christ,  when  that  child  does  some- 
thing that  does  not  please  mother.  Does 
not  that  kind  of  nagging  cause  the  little  one 
to  stumble  ?  Supposing  God  demanded  as 
much  of  the  mother  as  the  mother  demands 
of  the  child  in  the  way  of  perfect  behavior, 
what  would  the  mother  think  of  the  love 


24  The  Child  for  Christ 

and  the  tender  mercy  of  the  Heavenly 
Father  ? 

A  pastor  of  a  village  church  was  visiting 
a  substantial  merchant  in  a  great  city.  The 
merchant  as  a  young  man  had  left  the  vil- 
lage in  whi^h  his  visitor  was  located.  He 
talked  of  his  boyhood  days  there,  of  the 
Sunday-school  and  of  the  church.  Then  he 
spoke  of  his  present  position  as  an  elder  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church  and  of  his  work  for 
Christ.  Among  other  things  he  said:  "I 
have  always  had  somewhat  of  a  grudge 
against  the  old  church."  "Why?"  in- 
quired the  pastor.  **  Because  when  I  was  a 
boy  of  ten,  I  applied  for  admission  to  the 
church  and  the  session  did  not  think  that  I 
ought  to  join,  so  I  was  rejected.  I  really 
believe  that  I  was  just  as  much  of  a  Chris- 
tian then  as  I  am  now."  Was  not  that  ses- 
sion in  danger  of  causing  the  little  one  to 
stumble  ? 

Should  not  all  who  have  to  do  with  the 
young  take  heed  lest  they  cause  the  little 
ones  to  stumble  ?  How  may  the  children 
be  caused  to  stumble  ? 

I.     By  incorrect  teaching. 


Some  Bible  Facts  25 

2.  By  setting  a  bad  example. 

3.  By  lack  of  sympathy  with  them  in 
their  efforts  to  follow  the  Master. 

VII.  There  is  no  one  Method  of  Re- 
generation. "  The  wind  bloweth  where  it 
listeth,  and  thou  hearest  the  sound  thereof, 
but  canst  not  tell  whence  it  cometh  and 
whither  it  goeth:  so  is  every  one  that  is 
born  of  the  Spirit."  How  foolish,  yea  how 
wicked,  therefore,  are  those  adults  who  in- 
sist that  children  shall  have  experiences 
similar  to  what  the  adults  had  when  they 
were  converted!  How  contrary  to  the 
teaching  of  Jesus  is  that  attitude  of  mind, 
which  demands  the  same  evidences  of  rc: 
generation  from  all  persons! 

It's  all  wrong.  When  Watson  yielded  his 
heart  to  Jesus  before  he  was  five  years  of 
age,  his  experience  was  quite  different  from 
that  of  my  friend,  who  after  many  years  of 
sin,  accepted  Christ  at  the  age  of  fifty-five. 
When  that  boy  of  ten  in  my  Bible-school 
class  comes  to  the  Saviour,  the  outward 
manifestations  of  his  regeneration  will  be  far 
different  from  those  exhibited  by  that  outcast 
who  has  been  doing  evil  for  many  years. 


26  The  Child  for  Christ 

A  brighter  and  a  better  day  has  dawned 
for  the  child.  It  is  so  difficult  to  extirpate 
deeply-rooted  prejudices.  Therefore,  sur- 
vivals of  the  unscriptural  treatment  of  the 
child,  are  still  found.  They  are,  however, 
growing  less  and  less.  More  and  more  are 
parents,  pastors  and  Bible-school  workers 
heeding  the  words  of  Jesus,  who  said: 
"Suffer  little  children,  and  forbid  them  not, 
to  come  unto  Me:  for  of  such  is  the  king- 
dom of  heaven"  (Matt  19:  14). 


Ill 

Child  Conversion:  What  It  Is  Not 

While  we  do  not  believe  that  any  one 
word  covers  the  thoughts  included  in  the 
phrase  the  child  for  Christ,  yet  the  term 
conversion  has  become  such  a  conventional 
one  that  we  may  adopt  it  for  convenience 
sake.  The  difficulty  with  it,  as  with  so 
many  other  current  expressions,  is  that  to 
one  person  it  means  one  thing,  and  to  an- 
other it  signifies  something  quite  different. 
Therefore,  it  may  be  helpful  to  agree  on 
what  child  conversion  is  not. 

Child  Conversion  is  not  Regeneration. 

At  a  child  conversion  institute,  the  ques- 
tion was  asked:  What  is  the  time  relation 
between  conversion  and  regeneration  ? 
The  answer  came  instantly:  "I  do  not 
know.  Regeneration  is  God's  work,  con- 
version is  man's  part.  God  above  regener- 
ates. My  business  is  to  so  present  Christ 
27 


28  The  Child  for  Christ 

to  the  child  that  he  will  turn  to  Him  as  his 
Friend,  Saviour  and  Master.  When  the 
child  does  this,  he  is  converted." 

Was  not  this  a  good  answer.?  Let  us 
then  not  worry  about  that  which  God  has 
kept  for  Himself,  but  let  us  so  present  Christ 
to  the  child  and  so  urge  the  child  to  receive 
Christ,  that  he  will  gladly  turn  to  Him. 

Child  Conversion  is  not  Sanctification. 
Of  the  many  mistakes  that  have  been 
made  in  reference  to  child  discipleship  none 
is  more  fatal  to  the  natural  spiritual  develop- 
ment of  the  babe  in  Christ,  than  that  of  ex-^ 
pecting  too  much  of  the  young  Christian. 
An  elderly  Bible-school  worker  once  com- 
plained to  the  writer  of  a  group  of  boys, 
twelve  to  sixteen  years  of  age,  who  were 
playing  baseball,  on  a  Saturday,  while  a 
Bible-school  Institute  was  being  held. 
When  the  complainer  was  asked:  Why 
should  the  boys  not  play  baseball  ?  he  an- 
swered: '*  Because  they  are  Christians  and 
ought  to  attend  the  meetings."  He  ac- 
knowledged that  he  had  not  attended 
Sunday-school  conventions  when   he  was 


Conversion:  What  it  is  Not     29 

the  age  of  the  boys.  He  forgot  that  the 
time  had  not  yet  come  for  those  boys  to  be 
so  intensely  interested  in  Bible-school  work, 
that  they  would  rather  attend  a  lecture  or 
a  conference  on  methods  than  to  play  ball. 
Would  they  have  been  boys  if  they  had  ? 

There  are  many  grandparents  with  whom 
the  Lord  has  been  dealing  for  years,  and 
whom  He  has  brought  to  their  present 
plane  of  Christian  experience  perhaps  by 
means  of  severe  discipline,  who  expect  their 
grandchildren  to  be  as  mature  Christians  as 
they  are.  There  are  parents  who  demand 
that  their  children  shall  render  to  Christ 
better  service  than  they  themselves  render. 

While  we  expect  fruitage  and  should  look 
for  development  in  Christian  graces,  let  us 
never  forget  that  children  may  be  Christians 
and  still  not  have  attained  unto  a  very  high 
degree  of  sanctification. 

Child  Conversion  is  Not  Adult  Conversion. 
I  once  heard  a  preacher  speaking  of  the 
sins  of  children,  declare:  *'A  little  rattle- 
snake is  the  same  as  a  big  rattlesnake." 
True,  but  a  child  sinner  is  not  the  same  as 


30  The  Child  for  Christ 

an  adult  sinner.  There  is  a  tramp  on  the 
Bowery.  Long  ago  he  has  smashed  the 
decalogue  into  such  small  pieces  that  he  has 
none  of  it  left.  He  has  gone  down,  step  by 
step,  until  he  is  already  leaning  over  the 
abyss.  There  is  my  four  year  old  boy.  He 
has  sinned.  He,  as  well  as  the  tramp, 
needs  Christ,  but  when  he  turns  to  the  Lord 
his  conversion  will  be  quite  different  from 
that  of  the  tramp  who  has  been  living  in  sin 
for  years.  The  outward  manifestations  of 
the  two  conversions  will  be  quite  different. 
The  person  who  is  expecting  the  child  to 
have  the  same  sorrow  for  sin  and  the  same 
experiences  in  coming  to  the  Saviour  as  has 
the  tramp,  will  never  have  his  expectations 
realized. 

Child  Conversion  is  Not  Feeling  Something. 
Nor  for  that  matter  is  adult  conversion. 
I  have  seen  a  woman  under  the  power  of  an 
appeal  to  forsake  sin,  throw  herself  on  her 
knees  before  a  crowded  church  and  cry  to 
God  for  mercy.  She  felt  mightily.  I  have 
seen  that  same  woman,  within  a  fortnight, 
so  drunk  that  she  could  not  find  her  way 


Conversion:  What  it  is  Not     31 

home.  Her  feelings  did  not  result  in  her 
turning  to  God.  I  have  seen  children  cry  as 
they  realized  their  sinfulness  and  seemingly 
be  all  the  worse  afterwards,  because  they 
had  had  their  feelings  acted  upon.  The 
difficulty  was,  that  the  whole  matter  stopped 
with  feelings. 

Child  Conversion  is  Not  Saying  Something. 
We  have  heard  of  the  boy  who  held  up 
his  left  hand  when  the  teacher  asked:  How 
many  love  Jesus  ?  while  at  the  same  time 
he  was  using  his  right  hand  to  jab  a  pin  into 
his  seat-mate.  I  have  known  children,  time 
and  time  again,  because  they  thought  it 
would  please  the  leader  of  the  meeting,  say, 
"I  love  Jesus,"  and  go  directly  from  that 
meeting  to  do  things  that  even  a  non-Chris- 
tian child  should  not  be  guilty  of.  "If  ye 
love  Me  keep  My  commandments,"  said  the 
Master.  For  one  to  say  "  I  love  Jesus  "  may 
mean  much  or  may  mean  nothing. 

Child  Conversion  is  Not  Doing  Something. 
I  had  the  privilege  of  working  once  in 
union  services  for  a  fortnight.     The  mem- 
bers of  two  churches  met  night  after  night 


32  The  Child  for  Christ 

in  one  of  the  churches  and  joined  heartily  in 
work  for  the  unsaved  under  the  leadership 
of  two  evangelists.  It  was  reported  that 
453  persons,  many  of  them  children,  were 
converted  in  those  meetings.  Six  months 
afterwards,  the  two  pastors  concluded  that 
fourteen  was  the  largest  number  of  persons 
that  they  could  find  that  had  really  accepted 
Christ.  What  caused  the  discrepancy  ? 
Four  hundred  and  fifty-three  persons  had 
done  something.  They  had  signed  covenant 
cards.  Fourteen  proved  their  conversion  by 
their  works. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  feeling  and 
saying  and  doing,  do  not  enter  into  that 
which  we  call  conversion.  They  do.  He 
that  comes  to  Christ  must  feel,  must  say, 
must  do,  but  one  may  feel,  and  say,  and 
do  without  coming  to  Christ.  Alas!  that 
so  many  have  substituted  the  feeling,  the 
saying,  the  doing,  for  Christ  Himself. 

Child  Conversion  is  Not  a  Rite  Nor  a 
Ceremony. 

Bapfism,  confirmation,  uniting  with  the 
Church,  or  partaking  of  the  Lord's  Supper 


Conversion:  What  it  is  Not     33 

may  be  the  means  of  great  blessings,  or 
they  may  be  the  means  of  the  reverse.  I£ 
any  or  all  of  these  things  are  put  in  the  place 
of  Christ  they  are  harmful  instead  of  help- 
ful It  is  possible  for  a  child  to  be  baptized 
and  not  turn  to  Jesus  Christ.  Confirmation, 
Church  membership  and  the  partaking  of 
the  Lord's  Supper  may  be  substituted  for 
faith  in  Christ.  In  other  words,  there  is 
danger  that  these  things  be  put  in  the  place 
of  conversion. 

Child  Conversion  is  not  Service. 
True,  service  is  the  law  of  the  kingdom. 
True,  he  that  follows  Christ  must  serve. 
On  the  other  hand  it  is  equally  true  that  a 
boy  or  a  girl  may  be  given  something  to  do 
instead  of  being  brought  to  Christ.  Saved 
TO  SERVE  is  a  good  motto.  Service  instead 
of  salvation  seems  to  be  the  thought  of  many. 
If  a  boy  or  a  girl  can  be  elected  a  member 
of  a  Church  organization,  or  put  on  a  com- 
mittee in  order  to  do  something,  all  is  well, 
according  to  the  actions  if  not  the  words  of 
many  in  these  days.  This  is  all  wrong,  un- 
less the  work  be  given  with  the  thought  of 


34 


The  Child  for  Christ 


leading  the  young  worker  to  Christ.  If  the 
service  is  substituted  for  the  new  life,  it  may 
work  great  evil  to  the  one  who  serves  and 
perhaps  keep  him  from  the  Saviour. 


REVIEW 


IS  NOT  < 


CHILD  CONVERSION 
REGENERATION 
SANCTIFICATION 
ADULT  CONVERSION 


IS  NOT  < 


r  BAPTISM 
CONFIRMATION 
CHURCH  MEMBERSHIP 
SERVICE 


IS  NOT 


^FEELING 
SAYING 
DOING 


IV 

Child  Conversion;    What  It  Is 

In  Luke  13:34  the  Master  Himself  gives 
us  in  a  few  words,  a  graphic  picture,  from 
the  study  of  which  we  may  be  able  to 
formulate  a  statement  of  what  child  con- 
version is.  It  is  unnecessary  to  tell  the 
reader  that  the  word  conversion  means  a 
turning  to,  but  it  is  most  necessary  to  al- 
ways keep  in  mind  this  fact  when  dealing 
with  the  child.  Christ's  own  picture  shows 
why  the  child  should  turn  to  Him.  Look 
at  His  statement:  "O  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem 
.  .  .  how  often  would  I  have  gathered  thy 
children  together,  as  a  hen  doth  gather 
her  brood  under  her  wings  and  ye  would 
not."  Why  does  the  hen  thus  gather  her 
chickens  ?  Is  it  not  to  save  them  from  de- 
struction, to  protect  them  from  harm,  and 
to  nourish  their  life  ?  The  little  chick  runs 
away  from  the  mother  hen,  and  if  not 
brought  back  will  go  to  its  death.  So  the 
35 


36  The  Child  for  Christ 

mother  calls  the  chick  to  herself,  and  pro- 
vides for  its  salvation.  Up  in  the  air  is  the 
hawk  all  ready  to  pounce  down  on  the 
helpless  chick.  Off  in  the  bushes  is  the 
animal  awaiting  an  opportunity  to  spring 
upon  it.  The  mother  calls,  the  chick  re- 
sponds, and  under  that  protecting  wing  is 
safe.  The  winds  blow,  the  air  becomes 
chill,  and  were  it  not  for  the  warmth,  the 
very  life,  that  goes  from  the  hen  the  chick 
would  perish  with  cold. 

Is  not  this  a  beautiful  picture  ?  Is  it  not 
worthy  of  the  loving  Saviour  Himself?  Is 
it  not  a  picture  that  ought  to  be  presented 
to  the  child  over  and  over  until  it  is  under- 
stood in  its  true  significance  and  in  all  its 
beauty  ?  Christ  calls  the  little  ones  to  Him- 
self in  order  that  He  may  save  them  from 
destruction,  that  is  eternal  death;  in  order 
that  He  may  protect  them  from  all  the  dan- 
gers and  temptations,  by  which  they  are 
surrounded;  in  order  that  He  may  furnish 
the  warmth  and  the  life  which  they  need, 
while  they  are  developing  in  this  world 
where  there  is  so  much  spiritual  coldness 
and  where  so  many  fierce  storms  rage. 


Conversion:  What  it  is         37 

With  this  picture  in  mind,  we  are  able  to 
formulate  this  statement:  Child  conversion 
is  the  voluntary  turning  of  the  child  to 
Christ,  as 

FRIEND. 
HELPER. 
SAVIOUR. 
MASTER. 

Christ  as  Friend.  There  are  many  things 
that  are  theologically  true,  that  the  child 
knows  little  or  nothing  about.  For  ex- 
ample, the  fact  of  Christ's  suffering  on  the 
cross  is  true  and  one  may  have  a  Scrip- 
tural doctrine  of  the  atonement  and  be  able 
to  state  in  choice  language  why  Christ 
suffered,  but  the  little  one  knows  little  and 
cares  less  about  these  things  at  first.  If, 
however,  the  loving  Jesus  can  be  presented 
as  a  friend  for  the  child  that  presentation 
will  be  understood  and  the  coming  to  Christ 
on  the  part  of  the  child  will  be  much  more 
real,  than  if  it  is  obliged  to  give  an  intel- 
lectual assent  to  doctrines.  How  much  did 
even  the  woman  of  Samaria  understand  of 
some    very  fundamental  truths  when  she 


38  The  Child  for  Christ 

believed  and  was  able  to  lead  others  to  be- 
lieve ? 

Many  of  us  grown-up  folks  imagine  that 
we  are  the  only  ones  who  have  troubles. 
In  this  we  make  a  sad  mistake.  The  little 
child  has  troubles;  troubles  that  are  just  as 
real  to  him  as  ours  are  to  us.  If  Jesus 
Christ  is  presented  to  the  child  as  the  friend 
of  children,  that  thought  can  be  grasped, 
and  in  a  very  real  way,  in  a  very  practical 
way  the  child  can  come  to  Jesus. 

Christ  as  Helper.  As  we  develop  in  the 
Christian  life  we  realize  how  Christ  helps  us 
in  everything  in  the  doing  of  which  we  will 
look  to  Him  for  aid.  The  child  needs  help 
from  above  as  much  as  does  the  adult. 
The  child  will  respond  to  the  truth  that 
Christ  is  a  helper,  if  that  truth  is  taught  in 
concrete  form  so  as  to  apply  practically  to 
its  every-day  life.  How  much  help  the  very 
young  may  get  from  Christ,  is  realized  only 
by  those  who  have  made  a  close  study  of 
children  with  this  thought  in  view. 

Watson  was  four  and  a  half  years  old. 
He  was  a  child  of  many  prayers.  One 
afternoon  in  his  own  way  he  decided  to  ac- 


Conversion:  What  it  is         39 

cept  Jesus  Christ  as  his  Saviour.  He  was 
much  impressed  with  the  services  and  that 
evening  at  the  supper  table  declared  that  he 
wanted  to  go  to  meeting  that  night.  Papa 
thought  it  best  for  him  to  stay  at  home. 
At  once  there  was  a  conflict.  Papa  called 
Watson  to  his  side,  quietly  reminded  him 
of  the  fact  that  he  had  given  himself  to 
Jesus,  explained  why  he  wished  his  boy  to 
stay  at  home,  and  told  him  to  ask  Jesus  to 
help  him  to  do  what  papa  thought  was 
best.  The  little  head  fell,  there  was  a 
struggle  within  the  little  breast,  but  Jesus 
was  there  to  help.  Soon  the  little  fellow 
looked  up,  smiled,  went  back  to  his  place, 
and  in  due  time  went  contentedly  to  bed. 
He  was  learning  that  Jesus  is  his  helper. 
Oh!  that  more  children  had  Jesus  so  pre- 
sented to  them  that  they  could  learn  this 
blessed  truth. 

Jesus  as  Saviour.  There  come  times  in 
the  experience  of  the  average  child,  when 
he  becomes  conscious  of  the  fact  that  he  is  a 
sinner.  At  such  times  the  picture  of  Jesus 
on  the  cross  bearing  our  sins,  should  be 
presented  to  him,  not  with  harrowing  de- 


40  The  Child  for  Christ 

tails  of  physical  suffering,  but  with  the  em- 
phasis on  the  love  of  Christ  in  dying  for 
sinners  and  on  the  love  of  God  in  sending 
His  Son  to  die  for  sinners.  Three  texts 
should  be  given  to  the  child  and  he  should 
be  asked  to  memorize  them  and  to  repeat 
them  every  time  that  he  does  anything 
wrong: 

1.  John  3:16,  "God  so  loved  the 
world,  that  He  gave  His  only  begotten  Son, 
that  whosoever  believeth  in  Him  should  not 
perish,  but  have  everlasting  life." 

2.  I  Peter  2:24,  "Who  His  own  self 
bore  our  sins  in  His  own  body  on  the  tree, 
that  we,  being  dead  to  sin,  should  live  unto 
righteousness;  by  whose  stripes  ye  are 
healed." 

3.  I  John  1:9,  "If  we  confess  our  sins, 
He  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us  our  sins 
and  to  cleanse  us  from  all  righteousness." 

Christ  as  Master.  Their  name  is  legion, 
who,  among  adults,  would  like  to  have 
Christ  as  a  friend  and  a  helper  and  to  be 
sure  that  He  will  save  them  from  the  con- 
sequences of  their  sin,  but  who  are  not  very 
desirous   of  having  Him   as  Master.     Like 


Conversion:  What  it  is         41 

those  of  old,  they  may  say  ''Lord,  Lord," 
but  they  do  not  the  things  which  He  com- 
mands. Here  is  the  test  of  true  coming  to 
Jesus.  "  If  ye  love  Me  keep  My  command- 
ments" (John  14:  15).  There  is  no  true 
conversion  without  love  for  Christ.  There 
is  no  true  love  for  Christ  without  the  will- 
ingness to  obey  Him.  In  other  words, 
Christ  cannot  be  the  Saviour  of  any  one,  un- 
less He  is  also  the  Master  of  that  one.  As 
the  child  who  has  come  to  Christ  manifests 
a  tendency  or  a  disposition  to  do  wrong, 
this  truth  must  be  very  clearly  but  very 
patiently  taught.  The  child  must  be  led  to 
see  that  the  saying  "I  love  Jesus,"  means 
absolutely  nothing,  unless  it  is  accompanied 
with  the  determination  to  do  what  Jesus 
commands. 

If  the  child  thus  voluntarily  turns  to 
Christ  so  as  to  look  to  Him  as  friend  and 
helper  to  accept  Him  as  Saviour,  and  to 
obey  Him  as  Lord,  there  need  be  no  very 
remarkable  experience  nor  any  wonderful 
phenomenon  connected  with  its  conversion. 
Often  in  waiting  for  what  they  call  "the 
change "    parents   and   teachers   neglect  to 


42  The  Child  for  Christ 

lead  the  child  to  Christ,  so  that  the  change 
may  be  possible. 

Viewing  the  same  truths  from  another 
standpoint  we  may  say,  child  conversion  is 
the  voluntary  turning  of  a  child  to 
Christ  in  order  to 


LOVE      J 
KNOW 
TRUST 
OBEY      11 


To  Love  Christ.  Love  is  natural  to  child- 
hood. A  child  can  love  Christ  with  all  the 
intensity  of  its  young  heart.  While  a  girl 
of  eight  lay  on  her  deathbed,  the  way  in 
which  she  talked  to  her  parents  about  her 
love  for  Jesus  was  simply  marvellous.  A 
boy  of  five  on  being  asked:  Whom  do  you 
love?  replied:  "I  love  God  first,  I  love 
my  mamma  second,"  and  then  went  on  to 
enumerate  those  whom  he  loved,  but  it  was 
God  first.  By  dwelling  constantly  upon 
the  love  of  Christ,  we  may  so  lead  the  child 
to  love  Him,  that  that  love  will  become 
second  nature. 


Conversion:  What  it  is         43 

To  Know  Christ.  This  love  for  Christ 
will  lead  the  child  to  think  about  Him,  to 
ask  questions  about  Him,  and  to  seek  to 
know  Him.  The  knowledge  of  the  child 
may  not  be  expressed  in  terms  to  satisfy 
the  philosopher  or  the  theologian,  but  it 
may  be  a  very  true  knowledge,  neverthe- 
less. Adult  materialists  may  have  great 
difficulty  in  knowing  Christ,  but  there  need 
be  no  difficulty  in  making  Him  very  real, 
very  personal  and  ever  present  to  the  child. 
Of  course,  it  is  understood  that  one  reason 
why  some  parents  and  teachers  do  not 
spend  much  time  in  trying  to  lead  their 
children  to  Christ,  is  because  they  them- 
selves are  so  slightly  acquainted  with  Him. 

To  Trust  Christ.  The  Biblical  word 
"believe  "'  is  a  difficult  one  to  bring  to  the 
child's  comprehension.  So  is  the  word 
''faith."  The  child,  however,  does  know 
what  it  is  to  trust  father  and  mother  and  to 
have  the  cat  or  dog  trust  him.  Jesus  has 
paid  the  penalty  for  sin.  There  is  no  more 
work  to  be  done  in  giving  the  sinner  a  right 
to  come  to  God.  The  child  must  be  taught 
to  take  Jesus  absolutely  at  His  word  and 


44  The  Child  for  Christ 

trust  Him  for  salvation  and  for  those  things 
which  accompany  salvation. 

To  Obey  Christ.  Trust  cannot  be  seen, 
but  the  effects  of  trust  are  very  apparent. 
This  fact,  the  child  must  be  taught.  He 
who  does  not  do  as  Christ  commands  does 
not  trust  Him,  therefore  does  not  believe, 
therefore  is  not  saved.  This  must  be  re- 
peated many,  many  times  to  the  child,  until 
obedience  to  Christ  proves  that  he  trusts 
Him. 

Note: — The  question  is  frequently  asked: 
How  many  times  can  a  child  be  converted  ? 
The  answer  is:  That  depends  on  what  the 
questioner  means  by  conversion.  This 
much  is  true:  A  child  can  turn  to  Christ 
many,  many  times.  In  one  sense  life  is  a 
series  of  conversions.  Therefore,  the  child 
who  professes  to  be  a  Christian  should  not 
be  upbraided  for  doing  wrong,  unless  the 
evil  doing  has  been  willful  or  malicious,  but 
should  be  encouraged  to  keep  turning  more 
and  more  to  Christ.  What  was  it  Christ 
said  to  Peter  .^  *' When  thou  art  converted 
strengthen  the  brethren."  What  does  this 
mean  ? 


Conversion:  What  it  is         45 
REVIEW 


CHILD  CONVERSION  IS  A  VOLUNTARY 
TURNING  OF  A  CHILD  TO  CHRIST  AS 

FRIEND  LOVE    fl 

HELPER     ^^^.  ^^^^^^  ^,^  KNOW 

SAVIOUR  TRUST 

MASTER  OBEY 


Why  Lead  the  Child  to  Christ  ? 

Our  emphasis  is  on  these  two  thoughts: 
First,  we  are  speaking  of  children,  not  of 
adults.  Second,  we  are  speaking  of  lead- 
ing them  to  Christ.  Christians  are  agreed 
in  the  thought  that  people  ought  to  come  to 
Christ.  Our  thought  is  that  they  ought  to 
come  when  very  young,  and  that  they 
ought  to  come  as  the  result  of  being  led  to 
Christ  by  His  disciples.  Why  should  the 
child  be  led  to  Christ  ? 

I.  Because  it  is  God's  Will  that  the 
Child  be  Saved.  "  It  is  not  the  will  of  your 
father  which  is  in  heaven,  that  one  of  these 
little  ones  should  perish "  (Matt.  18:14). 
The  context  shows  how  desirous  the 
Heavenly  Father  is  for  the  salvation  of  the 
child. 

II.  Because  Christ  Commands  that  the 

Child    be  Brought  to  Him.     Read    again 

Matthew    19:  13-15.     Very  small  children 
46 


Why  Lead  the  Child  47 

were  those  that  the  disciples  tried  to  keep 
from  the  Master,  but  He  rebuked  those  who 
would  keep  them  away. 

III.  Because  it  is  Comparatively  Easy  to 
Lead  the  Child  to  Christ.  Vast  sums  of 
money,  much  time  and  great  labor  are  ex- 
pended in  rescue  mission  work.  If  that 
money,  time  and  labor  were  put  into  defi- 
nite efforts  to  lead  the  child  to  Christ,  the 
results  would  be  far  greater  and  there  would 
not  be  so  great  necessity  for  rescue  work. 
Every  Christian  laborer  knows  how  difficult 
it  is  to  bring  the  adult  sinner  to  Christ. 
Some  have  learned  how  comparatively  easy 
it  is  to  bring  the  child  to  Christ.  *'  We  are 
a  nation  of  fools,"  exclaimed  an  indignant 
American  pointing  to  Elmira  Reformatory. 
"Why.?"  he  was  asked.  "Because  we 
spend  such  vast  sums  in  taking  care  of  our 
criminals  and  so  little  in  religious  work  for 
children."  It  is  not  only  easier  but  less 
costly  to  lead  the  child  to  Christ  than  to  re- 
form the  criminal. 

IV.  Because  it  is  Best  to  Bring  the  Indi- 
vidual TO  Christ  When  Young.  What  is 
meant  by  best  ?    Anything  and  everything 


48  The  Child  for  Christ 

that  one  wishes  to  put  into  that  word  prop- 
erly belongs  there.  It  is  best  in  every  way 
to  lead  the  child  to  Christ.  It  is  best  for 
the  child,  best  for  the  home,  best  for  the 
Church,  best  for  the  community,  best  for 
the  nation,  best  for  the  Kingdom  that  the 
little  child  be  brought  to  Christ. 

Take  for  example  a  number  of  persons, 
one  group  of  which  were  converted  at  the 
age  of  forty,  and  the  other  group  of  which 
were  brought  to  Christ  at  the  average  age 
of  eight.  It  takes  but  little  calculation  to 
enable  one  to  realize  how  much  better  off 
the  latter  group  have  been  and  how  much 
more  they  have  done  for  their  homes,  their 
communities,  their  churches  and  the  King- 
dom, than  have  the  members  of  the  other 
group. 

In  point  of  fact  it  has  been  demonstrated 
over  and  over  again,  that  a  large  majority 
of  the  active  Christian  workers  of  to-day 
confessed  Christ  before  they  were  sixteen 
years  old.  Had  their  parents  and  friends 
known  the  possibilities  most  of  them  might 
have  been  brought  to  Christ  long  before 
they  reached  their  teens. 


Why  Lead  the  Child  49 

V.  Because  the  Child  Needs  Christ. 
The  adult  needs  Christ,  to  be  sure.  Does 
not  the  child  ?  You  wish  your  child  to  be 
good.  Who  can  give  him  such  help  to  be 
good  as  Christ  can  ?  You  wish  your  child 
to  keep  out  of  temptation.  Who  can  de- 
liver him  as  Christ  can  ?  You  wish  your 
child  to  grow  in  the  spiritual  life.  Who 
can  help  him  in  this  growth  as  Christ  can  ? 
What  is  it  that  Christ  does  for  the  adult, 
who  looks  to  him  in  faith  ?  That  and  more 
Christ  can  and  will  do  for  the  believing 
child.  All  this  is  for  the  present.  In  addi- 
tion, however,  is  that  life  in  coming  days. 
How  full  of  sorrow  and  suffering  it  will  be, 
no  one  can  predict.  Blessed  is  he  who 
finds  Christ  in  time  of  trouble,  but  thrice 
blessed  is  he  who  has  Christ  as  his  all  in  all 
before  the  evil  days  come.  In  the  valley  of 
the  shadow  of  death,  nothing  brings  peace 
like  the  consciousness  of  the  presence  of 
Christ.  More  children  than  adults  pass 
through  that  valley.  Hence,  the  child  needs 
Christ,  as  we  know  not  when  he  shall  pass 
through  the  valley. 

VI.  Because  Every  Year  Decreases  the 


50  The  Child  for  Christ 

Probability  of  the  Child  Coming  to  Christ. 
In  the  following  table  prepared  by  Dr.  Coe, 
we  see  the  age  of  conversion  of  men. 
Many  tables  similar  to  this,  tell  about  the 
same  story.  It  must  be  noted,  however, 
that  many  of  these  men  probably  were  led 
to  Christ  years  before  the  time  when  they 
publicly  confessed  Him. 

AGE    OF    CONVERSION   OR    DECISIVE  AWA- 
KENING  OF    1,784   MEN. 


Graduates  of  Drew  Seminary 

Y.  M.  C.  A.  Officers 

Starbuck's  Conversion  Cases 

Starbuck's  Cases  of  Spontaneous  Awakening. 

Members  of  Rock  River  Conference 

My  own  Cases  of  Decisive  Awakening 


TotaL 


Cases 
Examined. 


776 

16.4 

526 

16.5 

5' 

15-7 

75 

16.3 

272 

16.4 

84 

15.4 

1,784 


Average 
Age, 


16.4 


Who  can  tell  how  many  of  those  who 
never  came  to  Christ  made  up  their  minds 
before  they  were  twelve  years  old  ? 

A  mother  once  came  to  the  writer  and 
found  fault  with  him  because  he  paid  so 
much  attention  to  the  children  of  the  con- 
gregation and  so  little  to  the  young  men 
thereof.  Thinking  that  perhaps  he  was  to 
blame  he  consulted  a  wise  woman  who 
knew  the  facts.     When  she  heard  what  the 


Why  Lead  the  Child  51 

mother  had  said,  she  shook  her  head  and 
declared  :  "  It's  too  late  for  you  to  do  any- 
thing for  her  sons.  She  did  not  begin  early 
enough.  She  did  not  do  her  duty  when 
they  were  young."  How  sad  was  the 
thought  that  this  distracted  mother,  anxious 
for  the  salvation  of  her  boys,  had  let  the 
best  time  for  bringing  them  to  Christ  pass 
by  unimproved! 

Recently  I  met  a  fine  looking  man  of  the 
world,  well  dressed,  exhibiting  many  evi- 
dences of  worldly  success.  Well  do  I  re- 
member when  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  he  re- 
turned to  me  a  package  of  religious  litera- 
ture the  contents  of  which  had  been  given 
to  him  at  different  times,  in  the  hope  of 
helping  him  to  decide  for  Christ.  With  this 
package  came  a  courteous  note  in  which  he 
said:  "I  do  not  care  for  any  of  these 
things,"  meaning  those  things  which  related 
to  his  soul's  welfare.  For  three  years  we 
had  labored  faithfully  with  him,  but  we  had 
not  gotten  hold  of  him  early  enough.  The 
first  ten  years  of  his  life  had  been  spent  un- 
der the  influence  of  his  rationalistic  father, 
who  scoffed  at  religion.     The  impressions 


52  The  Child  for  Christ 

then  made  were  so  strong  that  we  could  do 
nothing  to  change  them,  and  so  at  thirteen 
he  had  deliberately  chosen  to  reject  the 
claims  of  Christ. 

It  is  a  solemn,  an  awful  thought  that  each 
year  that  passes  decreases  the  probability  of 
that  child  in  your  home,  or  in  your  class 
coming  to  Christ.  How  the  thought  should 
spur  the  parent  and  the  teacher  to  action 
while  it  is  to-day. 

VII.  Because  of  the  Joy  in  the  Work. 
**  There  is  joy  in  the  presence  of  the  angels 
of  God  over  one  sinner  that  repenteth." 
Likewise  there  is  great  joy  in  the  heart  of 
the  one  who  is  privileged  to  be  the  instru- 
ment for  leading  a  soul  to  Christ.  This  joy 
is  increased  when  the  one  led  to  Christ  is  a 
child,  because  there  is  the  thought  that  a 
long  life  is  to  be  devoted  to  God  and  to  hu- 
manity. Those  who  are  engaged  in  the 
work  of  bringing  the  little  ones  to  the  Saviour 
declare  that  they  experience  no  joy  quite  so 
sweet  as  that  which  is  theirs  when  those  lit- 
tle ones  give  themselves  to  Jesus  Christ. 


VI 

Preparation  for  Leading  the  Child  to  Christ 

Many  earnest  Christians  shrink  from  what 
they  call  the  task  of  leading  the  child  to 
Christ,  because  they  say:  I  have  no  prepara- 
tion for  this  kind  of  work.  To  help  such 
persons  and  any  others  who  will  avail  them- 
selves of  them,  the  following  suggestions 
are  made.  In  order  to  lead  the  child  to 
Christ  there  must  be: 

1st.    Willingness. 

2d.     Knowledge. 

3d.     Consecration. 

4th.     Power. 

These  words  are  neither  logically  nor 
chronologically  arranged.  In  some  persons 
one  may  be  first  in  order,  in  other  persons 
another  may  take  precedence.  The  realities 
for  which  they  stand,  however,  will  all  be 
needed  by  every  successful  worker. 

Willingness.  The  first  question  concern- 
ing this  work  is  not:  "  How  shall  I  do  it.?" 
53 


54  The  Child  for  Christ 

but  * '  Am  I  willing  to  do  it  ?  "  Many  would- 
be  workers  have  listened  to  lectures  on 
methods  and  have  done  nothing,  because 
they  were  not  willing.  What  is  it  that  God 
wants  first  ?  Not  a  skillful  worker,  but  a 
willingmind.  (See  John  7:  17.)  Why  was 
Mr.  Moody  so  mightily  used  by  God  ?  Was 
it  because  he  was  so  well  prepared  to  do 
the  work  ?  Not  in  the  first  instance.  It 
was  because  he  was  so  willing  to  do  God's 
will.  What  God  desires  most  is  the  willing 
mind.  The  supreme  test  to  which  the 
worker  should  subject  himself  is  suggested 
by  the  question,  "Am  1  willing  to  lead  the 
child  to  Jesus  Christ  in  God's  way?"  If 
that  question  is  answered  in  the  negative, 
any  further  consideration  of  the  subject  of 
preparation  will  be  fruitless.  If  it  is  sin- 
cerely answered  in  the  affirmative  the  other 
necessary  steps  in  preparation  are  possible. 
Knowledge.  Again  the  example  cited  in 
the  preceding  paragraph.  Mr.  Moody  was 
willing,  but  he  had  much  to  learn.  Because 
of  his  entire  willingness,  God  instructed 
him,  so  that  he  became  the  most  successful 
soul  winner  of  his  generation.     As  in  his 


Preparation  for  Leading         ^^ 

case,  so  my  willingness  must  be  followed 
by  knowledge.  The  command  is:  "Study 
to  show  thyself  approved  unto  God,  a  work- 
man that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed,  rightly- 
dividing  the  work  of  truth "  (2  Timothy 
2:15).     But  what  must  I  know  ? 

1.  Christ.  In  order  to  present  Christ  to 
the  child,  I  must  know  Christ.  Can  I  know 
Him  without  study  ?  The  more  I  know 
Christ  the  better  I  shall  be  able  to  present 
Him  to  the  child  and  the  more  I  shall  desire 
to  do  so. 

2.  The  Bible.  There  are  multitudes  of 
Christians,  who  have  a  general  knowledge 
of  God's  word,  but  who  cannot  put  that 
knowledge  to  any  practical  use  in  leading 
the  child  to  Christ.  It  is  not  enough  to  know 
that  a  certain  thought  is  expressed  some- 
where in  the  Scriptures.  The  skilled  worker 
must  be  able  either  to  repeat  that  verse  or 
to  tell  the  child  where  it  is  found,  or  at  least 
must  be  able  to  turn  to  it  readily  when  deal- 
ing with  the  child.  This  working  knowl- 
edge of  the  Bible  is  indispensable  to  soul- 
winning. 

3.  Yourself.    There  are  those  who  know 


56  The  Child  for  Christ 

Jesus  Christ  and  who  are  students  of  the 
Bible,  who,  nevertheless,  cannot  lead  the 
child  to  Christ.  Why  not  ?  you  ask.  Be- 
cause they  repel  the  child.  Did  you  ever 
hear  of  my  friend  whom  I  call  the  file  man  ? 
Yes,  file  man,  spelled  with  capitals  FILE 
MAN.  He  is  devout,  earnest,  zealous,  but 
he  cannot  lead  children  to  Christ,  because  he 
repels  them.  He  is  like  a  man  encased  in 
an  armor  of  files.  He  is  always  jabbing 
with  the  sharp  ends  of  his  files  those  whom 
he  meets.  He  is  constantly  rubbing  the 
rough  surface  of  his  files  against  those  whom 
he  desires  to  help.  The  result  is  that  per- 
sons avoid  him.  He  does  not  mend  his 
ways  because  he  will  not  listen  to  one  who 
tells  him  about  his  file-like  make  up.  He 
always  blames  the  other  person.  He  does 
not  know  himself.  He  will  never  have  any 
success  as  a  soul-winner  until  he  studies 
himself  as  well  as  his  Bible.  ''Know  thy- 
self." 

4.  The  Child.  Jesus  the  great  teacher 
never  treated  two  individuals  exactly  alike, 
because  He  knew  the  differences  in  per- 
sons.    We  cannot  lead  children  en  masse  to 


Preparation  for  Leading         57 

Christ.  Each  child  must  be  lead  separately. 
In  order  to  do  this,  each  child  must  be 
studied.  No  two  children  look  at  things 
from  exactly  the  same  view-point,  in  order 
to  lead  a  child  to  Christ,  I  must  know  its 
view-point.  No  two  children  are  standing 
in  exactly  the  same  position  with  reference 
to  Christ.  In  order  to  lead  them  to  Christ 
I  must  know  where  they  are  standing. 
Here  is  a  child  whose  back  is  turned  to 
Christ.  If  I  take  that  one  by  the  hand  and 
lead  him  in  the  direction  in  which  he  is 
facing,  I  shall  lead  him  away  from  Christ. 
Here  is  another  child,  perhaps  in  the  same 
family,  perhaps  in  the  same  class  with  the 
other  whose  face  and  heart  are  turned  to- 
wards the  Saviour  and  all  I  have  to  do  is  to 
lead  him  a  few  steps  farther  Christward.  No 
two  children  have  exactly  the  same  knowl- 
edge of  Christ.  In  order  to  lead  them  to 
Him.,  I  must  learn  what  they  know.  These 
various  elements  of  knowledge  are  possible 
only  when  I  am  acquainted  with  the  child. 
Workers  for  Christ,  child  study  is  not  a  fad 
to  be  discussed  in  society  clubs  and  at  pink 
teas.     It  is  a  mighty  lever  in  the  hands  of 


58  The  Child  for  Christ 

those  who  will  make  use  of  it  to  lift  the 
child  Christward.  Therefore  study  the 
child. 

Consecration.  There  are  few  realities 
connected  with  Christian  living  about  which 
so  much  nonsense  has  been  prated  as  con- 
cerning that  which  is  commonly  designated 
consecration.  Here  is  the  real  soul-winner's 
idea  of  consecration.  "\  beseech  you 
therefore,  brethren,  by  the  mercies  of  God, 
that  ye  present  your  bodies  a  living  sacri- 
fice holy,  acceptable  unto  God,  which  is 
your  reasonable  service"  (Romans  12:  i). 
No  longer  does  God  desire  a  burnt-offering. 
The  bullock,  the  lamb,  the  pigeon  are  not 
now  acceptable  to  Him  as  a  sacrifice.  The 
martyr  who  dies  for  Christ  has  his  place  in 
the  development  of  the  kingdom,  but  it  is 
an  exceptional  place.  God  wants  the  living 
sacrifice.  What  does  that  mean.?  That  I 
sacrifice  myself  for  Him.  What  parts  make 
up  myself?  My  hand,  my  foot,  my  ear, 
my  tongue,  my  eye,  my  brain,  my  heart. 
It  is  folly  to  sing:  "Consecrate  me  now  to 
Thy  service,  Lord,"  unless  I  am  willing  to 
use  hand,  foot,  ear,  tongue,  eye,  brain  and 


Preparation  for  Leading         59 

heart  in  doing  my  part  towards  answering 
that  prayer.  Perhaps  it  will  be  necessary  to 
use  all  the  members  of  myself  in  order  to 
lead  a  little  child  to  Christ.  If  I  do,  then  am 
I  presenting  my  body  to  God  as  a  living 
sacrifice.  In  such  sacrifice  He  delights. 
Let  there  be  no  less  prayer,  but  let  there  be 
more  real  consecration. 

Power.  This  work  of  leading  the  child 
to  Christ  is  spiritual.  In  order  to  do  it  we 
must  have  spiritual  power.  Many  say  that 
spiritual  power  is  necessary  before  any  of 
the  three  requisites  dwelt  upon  in  the  fore- 
going. True.  Without  the  Spirit  of  God, 
we  will  not  be  willing,  we  will  not  gain  the 
proper  knowledge  and  we  will  not  really 
consecrate  ourselves  for  service.  There- 
fore, let  him  who  wishes  to  lead  the  child 
to  Christ,  be  experientially  convinced  of  the 
truth  of  the  Master's  promise:  **If  ye  then, 
being  evil,  know  how  to  give  good  gifts 
unto  your  children  how  much  more  shall 
your  heavenly  Father  give  the  Holy  Spirit 
to  them  that  ask  Him.?"  Let  him  not  try 
to  do  this  work  in  his  own  power,  but  let 
him  ask  for  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  let  him  be- 


6o  The  Child  for  Christ 

lieve  that  he  can  have  just  as  much  spiritual 
power  as  he  is  willing  to  use  for  the  glory 
of  God  and  for  the  good  of  humanity. 
Without  this  power  he  is  helpless.  With 
it  he  can  do  all  things  that  God  wishes  him 
to  do.  At  least  three  things  are  absolutely 
essential  in  order  to  have  the  spiritual 
power  necessary  to  lead  the  little  one  to 
Jesus: 

1 .  Prayer. 

2.  Connection  with  God. 

3.  Use  of  the  power  given. 


REVIEW 


PREPARATION  NEEDED 
WILLINGNESS. 


KNOWLEDGE  of 

CONSECRATION. 
POWER. 


"CHRIST. 
THE  BIBLE. 
SELF. 
THE  PUPIL. 


VII 

How  TO  Bring  the  Child  to  Christ 

It  is  not  difficult  to  tell  why  we  ought  to 
bring  the  child  to  Christ.  It  is  very  easy  to 
exhort  others  to  bring  the  child  to  Christ. 
It  is  not  so  very  easy  to  answer  the  question 
How.^  This,  however,  we  purpose  to  try 
to  do. 

It  must  never  be  forgotten  that  there  is 
no  one  successful  method,  and  that  no  two 
children  can  be  dealt  with  in  exactly  the 
same  manner.  Moreover,  a  method  that  is 
a  failure  at  one  time,  may  be  successfully 
employed  at  another,  and  a  child  who  has 
remained  apparently  insensible  to  one  ap- 
peal may  readily  yield  to  another.  So  do 
not  be  discouraged,  but  try,  try  again. 
The  following  are  suggested  in  a  general 
way: 

I.  Rely  on  the  Spirit's  Willingness  to 
Help  You.  Remember  that  the  work  of 
leading  the  child  to  Christ  is  His.     Never 

6i 


62  The  Child  for  Christ 

forget  that  you  are  the  instrument  in  His 
hands  for  doing  the  work.  Be  encouraged 
with  the  thought  that  He  is  not  only  able 
but  also  very  desirous  to  help  you.  At 
every  point  in  your  endeavors  for  the  child, 
look  to  Him  for  direction,  inspiration  and 
power.  Tell  Him  of  your  mistakes  and 
acknowledge  the  part  which  He  has  played 
in  your  successes.  As  He  took  the  things 
of  Christ  and  showed  them  to  you  through 
some  human  instrumentality,  so  He  will 
show  them  to  the  child,  through  you. 

II.  Present  Christ  to  the  Child.  I  do 
not  believe  that  the  time  of  every  Sunday- 
school  session  should  be  occupied  in  simply 
presenting  Christ  to  the  child,  but  1  do  be- 
lieve that  that  time  is  largely  misspent  if 
there  is  not  underlying  the  teaching  the 
thought  that  the  lesson  is  going  to  lead  up 
to  Christ,  Take  your  Bible  as  the  type.  In 
it  are  many  forms  of  teaching;  in  it  there 
is  much  of  history,  of  chronology,  of  geog- 
raphy ;  types,  ceremonies  and  institutions 
have  their  place,  but  are  they  not  all  for  the 
purpose  of  leading  up  to  and  of  presenting 
Christ  ?    So  it  ought  to  be  with  my  teach- 


How  to  Bring  the  Child        63 

ing.  Methods  may  vary,  to-day  I  empha- 
size one  truth,  on  next  Sunday  a  different 
one,  but  all  the  lessons  should  in  some  way 
point  to  Christ.  In  addition  to  this,  I  would 
present  Christ  to  my  class  as  a  whole,  and  I 
would  present  Christ  outside  of  the  class  to 
the  individual  members  thereof.  In  this  re- 
spect, frequently,  too  much  is  taken  for 
granted.  Parents  think  that  the  Bible- 
school  teacher  will  lead  their  little  ones  to 
the  Saviour,  and  the  Bible-school  teacher 
thinks  that  the  parents  will  do  it.  Again  at 
especial  times,  for  example  on  decision 
day,  Christ  should  be  presented  to  the  chil- 
dren, as  if  this  were  the  first  opportunity 
that  had  ever  been  offered  to  accept  Him. 

III.  Remember  the  Differences  in  Chil- 
dren. I  once  heard  of  a  boy  who  not  only 
was  a  liar,  but  who  did  not  think  it  wrong 
to  lie  and  who  had  been  taught  to  lie  by  his 
mother.  It  would  not  take  a  very  vivid 
imagination  to  picture  that  boy  sitting  in  a 
Sunday-school  next  to  a  boy  who  thinks  it 
a  great  sin  to  lie,  and  whose  mother  has 
neglected  no  opportunity  to  instill  in  him  a 
hatred  of  deceit.     Those  two  boys  cannot 


64  The  Child  for  Christ 

be  led  to  Christ  in  exactly  the  same  way. 
Here  is  a  child  that  has  been  instructed  in 
the  truth  since  infancy.  Here  is  one  that 
was  born  and  has  been  bred  in  an  atmos- 
phere of  unrighteousness.  What  a  differ- 
ence there  is  between  them  !  Unwise  in- 
deed is  the  one  who  ignores  these  differ- 
ences when  presenting  Christ  to  the  two. 

IV.  Use  the  Child's  Language.  Not 
childish  language,  not  baby  talk,  but  lan- 
guage that  the  child  can  understand.  Much 
that  is  uttered  on  religious  topics  in  the 
presence  of  the  child  is  spoken  in  an  un- 
known tongue,  and  it  results  in  nothing, 
because  it  is  not  understood.  The  writer 
has  long  defended  this  thesis:  The  highest 
spiritual  truths  may  be  taught  to,  and  un- 
derstood by,  the  child,  if  uttered  in  language 
with  which  the  child  is  familiar  and  illus- 
trated by  those  things  which  are  on  the  plane 
of  the  child's  experience.  This  brings  us  to 
one  other  suggestion  concerning  the  How. 

V.  Use  Illustrations  Which  the  Child 
CAN  Understand.  Those  who  deal  with 
children  are  quite  apt  to  refer  to  Jesus  as  the 
great    Master    Teacher,   and   yet  are   very 


How  to  Bring  the  Child        65 

prone  to  neglect  or  to  refuse  to  follow  His 
example.  When  the  great  teacher  taught 
the  most  sublime  truth,  His  illustrations  were 
from  the  common  every-day  life  of  the  peo- 
ple. He  made  them  s^^  the  truth.  So,  he  who 
would  present  Christ  to  the  child  must  first 
see  as  the  child  sees  and  then  present  the 
truth  by  illustrations  on  this  plane  of  vision. 
VI.  Do  NOT  Expect  too  Much  of  the 
Child.  A  Christian  is  a  disciple  of  Christ. 
A  disciple  is  a  learner,  a  follower.  The 
test  that  we  should  apply  to  the  child  who 
wants  to  confess  Christ  is:  Do  you  love 
Jesus  Christ  so  that  you  are  willing  to  fol- 
low Him  ?  Conversion  is  turning  to  Christ. 
The  one  who  has  turned  to  Christ  does  not 
by  that  act  become  perfect.  We  have 
already  stated  that  conversion  is  not  sancti- 
fication.  Has  this  not  been  frequently  for- 
gotten in  dealing  with  the  child  ?  Have  we 
not  expected  that  development,  that  matu- 
rity, that  holiness  which  is  often  lacking  in 
even  the  mature  saint  ?  A  child  of  seven 
may  be  as  real  a  Christian  as  is  the  adult  of 
forty-seven  without  the  experience  of  the 
latter. 


66  The  Child  for  Christ 

VII.  Remember  How  Patient  God  Has 
Been  With  You.  Not  once  nor  twice  but 
many  times  was  Christ  presented  to  you 
before  you  accepted  Him,  and  after  you 
had  accepted  Him  what  baitings,  what 
stumblings,  what  going  backwards  there 
were !  What  alternations  of  light  and 
darkness,  of  hope  and  despair,  of  faith  and 
unbelief  there  were  !  And  through  it  all, 
how  tenderly  and  how  patiently  He  encour- 
aged you,  helped  you  and  led  you.  Your 
case  was  not  an  exceptional  one.  There 
was  no  especial  reason  why  you  should 
have  been  treated  with  such  loving  kind- 
ness. Do  not  forget  all  this,  and  it  will 
make  you  loving,  gentle  and  patient  with 
the  little  one  whom  you  want  to  lead  to  the 
Saviour  or  who  has  accepted  Him. 

Some  Hints. 

In  the  effort  to  bring  the  child  to  Christ 
there  are  some  things  that  should  be  thought 
about  over  and  over  again,  especially  when 
the  child  does  not  seem  to  want  to  accept 
Christ. 

I.     Study  the  Word  and  pray  earnestly 


How  to  Bring  the  Child        67 

until  you  are  fully  convinced  of  the  possi- 
bility of  the  child  coining  to  Christ  very 
early  in  life. 

2.  Put  away  all  feeling  of  rivalry  or 
jealousy.  What  difference  does  it  make 
who  is  the  instrument  in  leading  the  child 
to  Christ,  if  the  child  only  comes. 

3.  Secure  if  possible  the  cooperation  of 
others  in  the  effort  to  lead  the  child  to 
Christ.  The  parent  should  cooperate  with 
the  teacher  and  pastor  and  vice  versa. 

4.  As  a  general  thing  it  is  best  to  deal 
with  the  children  individually  and  in  private. 

5.  Some  Sunday-schools  have  adopted 
the  plan  of  monthly  evangelistic  services 
during  the  school  session  in  addition  to  the 
private  dealing  with  the  children. 

6.  Other  schools  have  especial  evangelis- 
tic meetings  for  the  children  at  a  time  other 
than  that  for  holding  the  Sunday-school 
services. 

7.  The  observance  of  decision  day  has 
resulted  in  many  young  children  confessing 
Christ. 

8.  As  a  rule,  children  should  not  be 
asked  to   attend  the   especial    evangelistic 


68  The  Child  for  Christ 

services  of  the  church,  because  in  them  the 
appeal  is  made  to  the  adult  sinner.  If, 
however,  children  do  attend  such  services 
they  should  be  spoken  to  by  workers  who 
know  something  about  the  religious  life  of 
the  child. 


VIII 

Decision  Day 

Among  the  many  institutions  connected 
with  the  Sunday-school  which  have  come 
into  prominence  during  the  last  few  years, 
none  seems  destined  to  result  in  more 
spiritual  good  than  that  which  is  popularly 
known  as  decision  day.  The  State  Sun- 
day-school Association  of  Pennsylvania  has 
recommended  the  last  Sunday  of  December 
to  be  observed  as  decision  day.  Wonder- 
ful results  are  reported  in  that  State.  The 
New  York  State  Sunday-school  Association 
recommends  the  observance  of  the  second 
Sunday  of  January.  During  1901  the  num- 
ber of  conversions  in  the  Sunday-schools  of 
the  State  of  New  York  greatly  exceeded  that 
of  any  of  the  few  years  preceding.  This 
was  due  largely  to  the  fact  that  many 
schools  for  the  first  time  held  decision  day 

exercises. 

69 


70  The  Child  for  Christ 

Objections. 
In  his  investigations  of  the  subject,  the 
writer  has  met  v/ith  many  objections  to  a 
particular  day  known  as  decision  day. 
These  objections,  expressed  in  various 
forms,  for  convenience  may  be  summed  up 
under  four  headings: 

I.  Every  Sunday  should  be  a  decision 
day.  This  of  course  requires  no  answer. 
Every  Sunday  ought  to  be  a  decision  day, 
but  is  it?  In  some  schools  a  great  many 
Sundays  pass  year  after  year  without  any 
especial  effort  being  made  to  lead  the  mem- 
bers of  some  of  the  classes  to  a  confession 
of  faith  in  Christ. 

II.  We  do  not  wish  to  unduly  influence 
our  children.  But  your  children  are  being 
unduly  influenced  whether  you  wish  it  or 
not.  The  probabilities  are,  that  if  you  are 
not  influencing  them  strongly  for  good, 
they  are  being  influenced  positively  for  evil. 

III.  My  child  is  too  young  to  become  a 
Christian.  Probably  this  objection  is  due  to 
the  confounding,  in  the  mind  of  the  objector, 
of  the  effort  to  bring  the  child  to  Christ, 
and  the  matter  of  church-membership. 


Decision   Day  71 

IV.  Our  children  are  Christians.  That 
may  be  so.  Then  the  effort  put  forth  on 
decision  day  should  be  to  get  them  pub- 
licly to  take  a  stand  for  Christ.  This  will 
help  the  child  all  through  life  and  will  en- 
courage others. 

What  Is  It  ? 

Decision  day  is  an  especial  effort  put 
forth,  after  much  prayer  and  preparation, 
to  have  every  unconverted  member  of  the 
Sunday-school  face  the  question  of  deciding 
for  Christ,  and  to  urge  every  Christian 
member  of  the  Sunday-school,  who  has  not 
already  done  so,  to  confess  Christ. 

In  many  places  where  decision  day  has 
been  observed  more  than  once  other  forms 
of  decision  are  asked  for.  For  example,  the 
pupils  may  be  asked  to  decide  to  do  some 
especial  form  of  work,  or  to  engage  in  some 
especial  services  for  the  advancement  of 
the  Kingdom. 

Why  Hold  Decision  Day  ? 
Many  answers   may  be  given,  one  per- 
haps will  suffice— To  bring  to  definite  fruit- 


72  The  Child  for  Christ 

age  the  results  of  the  teaching  of  parents, 
pastors  and  Bible-school  workers. 

One  Sabbath  afternoon,  the  writer 
preached  to  an  ordinary  congregation  in 
which  was  a  number  of  girls.  His  sermon 
had  been  prepared  for,  and  addressed  to, 
adult  Christians.  After  its  delivery,  the 
girls  of  the  congregation,  for  what  reason 
he  knows  not,  tarried  in  the  church.  He 
spoke  to  them  as  they  stood  in  a  group, 
urging  them  to  then  and  there  accept  Christ. 
Ten  girls,  ranging  in  age  from  nine  to 
seventeen  years  declared  their  determination 
to  accept  Christ  then  and  there  as  their 
Saviour,  and  henceforth  to  live  for  Him. 
These  girls  are  now  giving  positive  evi- 
dences that  their  decision  was  a  real  one. 
There  was  no  excitement  and  no  emotion, 
it  was  simply  an  appeal  made  to  the  will 
and  responded  to.  A  teacher  through 
whose  class  most  of  these  girls  had  passed, 
declared  that  the  writer  should  take  no 
credit  for  what  he  had  done,  that  these  girls 
had  been  well  taught,  and  ought  to  have 
been  Christians.  This  is  absolutely  true, 
but  up  to  that  time  no  one  had  made  a 


Decision   Day  73 

definite  appeal  to  them  in  such  a  way  that 
they  responded.  It  needed  but  this  added 
endeavor  to  bring  to  fruitage  the  teachings 
of  years.  There  are  very  many  schools 
where  such  an  effort  put  forth  in  a  prayer- 
ful way,  and  blessed  by  the  Spirit  of  God, 
would  yield  wondrous  results. 

A  Specimen  Decision  Day. 

In  planning  for  carrying  out  a  successful 
decision  day  three  points  of  time  must  be 
very  carefully  considered,  namely: 

1.  Before  the  Day.  There  have  been 
many  decision  days,  which  have  been  de- 
cided failures  because  the  proper  prepara- 
tion was  not  made  therefor.  The  follow- 
ing is  suggested  in  preparing  for  such  a  day : 

1.  The  day  and  the  work  must  be 
prayed  for.  Everything,  both  in  planning 
and  in  execution  should  be  done  in  absolute 
dependence  on  the  Holy  Spirit.  To  know 
the  mind  of  God  and  to  be  in  such  an  atti- 
tude that  the  Holy  Spirit  can  use  the  work- 
ers, there  must  be  much  prayer. 

2.  There  must  be  much  planning  in  ad- 
vance.    This  will  not  interfere  at  all  with 


74  The  Child  for  Christ 

the  working  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  provided 
the  plans  are  made  in  subjection  to  Him, 
and  with  the  thought  that  He  is  to  be  looked 
to  in  their  carrying  out. 

3.  The  time  for  the  decision  day  exer- 
cises should  be  announced  well  in  advance. 
There  are  those  who  object  to  such  an  an- 
nouncement, saying:  If  we  announce  the 
day,  some  will  remain  at  home  who  should 
be  there.  The  answer  is,  Let  them  remain 
away.  There  is  nothing  gained  by  forcing 
matters.  Much  is  lost  if  there  is  not  a  calm, 
deliberate  decision. 

4.  Cooperation  ought  to  be  secured. 
All  the  parties  who  should  be  interested, 
pastor,  Sunday-school  officers,  Sunday- 
school  teachers,  parents  and  friends  of  the 
pupils  of  the  school  should  be  asked  to  co- 
operate both  in  prayer  and  in  work. 

5.  This  cooperation  perhaps  can  be  se- 
cured best  through  a  sermon  preached  by 
the  pastor,  through  announcements  at 
prayer-meeting,  teachers'  meeting  and  the 
various  meetings  of  the  church,  and  by 
personal  visitation  upon  those  whose  sym- 
pathy and  cooperation  are  sought  for. 


Decision   Day  75 

II.  During  the  Day.  The  best  laid  plans 
will  be  fruitless  unless  they  are  well  car- 
ried out.  Hence,  the  climax  of  the  plan- 
ning should  be  reached  on  decision  day. 

1.  The  leader.  Ordinarily  the  pastor 
should  be  the  leader  in  the  decision  day  ex- 
ercises. It  would  be  better,  however,  if  an 
outsider  who  is  tactful  in  appealing  to 
young  people,  could  be  brought  into  the 
school  to  lead  the  decision  day  exercises. 
There  are  many  things  that  handicap  the 
pastor  because  of  his  knowledge  of  indi- 
viduals, from  which  an  outsider  would  be 
free. 

2.  The  workers.  Every  adult  Christian 
member  of  the  school,  and  every  adult 
Christian  visitor  in  the  school  on  decision 
day  should  have  something  definite  assigned 
to  them.  Some  should  be  appointed  to 
lead  in  prayer,  some  should  be  instructed 
concerning  singing,  which  may  be  made  a 
very  important  feature  of  the  exercises, 
some,  who  are  fitted  for  the  work,  should 
be  especially  instructed  in  regard  to  their 
speaking  to  individuals. 

3.  The  pupils.     If  possible,  during  the 


76  The  Child  for  Christ 

day,  at  least  two  appeals  should  be  made 
to  every  pupil  in  the  school.  One  should 
be  made  by  the  teacher  or  some  friend  to 
the  pupil  individually,  the  other  should  be 
made  to  the  school  collectively. 

4.  The  record.  There  should  be  a  cor- 
rect record  kept  of  all  who  in  anywise 
manifest  either  a  desire  to  accept  Christ,  or 
their  decision  for  Christ.  In  some  cases  the 
various  teachers  will  be  the  best  persons  to 
keep  this  record.  In  other  cases,  there  may 
be  especial  individuals  appointed  whose 
duty  it  will  be  to  make  note  of  such  names 
and  facts  as  will  be  helpful  to  the  pastor 
and  workers  of  the  school  in  their  future 
talks  with  the  members  thereof. 

III.  After  the  Day.  One  of  the  com- 
plaints frequently  made  concerning  decision 
day,  is,  that  those  who  have  decided  do  not 
hold  out.  This  complaint  is  never  well 
founded  when  the  work  of  decision  day  is 
not  allowed  to  cease  with  that  day.  The 
following  is  suggested: 

I.  Those  whose  names  have  been  taken 
as  having  expressed  a  desire,  or  as  having 
made  a  decision  should  be  at  once  followed 


Decision   Day  77 

up  with  personal  effort  on  the  part  of  those 
best  fitted  to  reach  them. 

2.  Wherever  possible  the  pastor's  com- 
municants-class should  be  formed.  Many 
pastors  are  alive  to  the  importance  of  such 
classes,  and  the  testimonies  received  con- 
cerning the  benefits  thereof,  prove  that  the 
results  of  decision  day  may  be  conserved. 

3.  In  some  churches  where  the  pastor's 
communicants-class  is  not  formed,  those 
who  have  decided  for  Christ  are  put  into 
classes  according  to  age,  and  have  the  bene- 
fit of  the  experience  and  the  teaching  of 
mature  Christians  who  are  capable  of  giving 
their  instruction  from  the  standpoint  of  the 
young  convert's  capacity  and  needs. 


IX 

Child  Discipleship 

terms  employed. 

It  is  quite  difficult  to  find  the  proper  term 
for  the  subject  which  we  are  now  to  con- 
sider; some  words  include  too  little  while 
others  exclude  what  ought  to  be  taken  into 
account. 

Child  Conversion  is  the  phrase  used  by 
many,  but  there  is  much  more  needed  for 
the  proper  spiritual  development  of  the  child 
than  what  is  ordinarily  understood  to  be 
comprehended  in  the  term  conversion. 

Child  Culture  is  popular,  but  as  it  seems 
to  omit  or  to  reject  the  idea  of  regeneration 
it  is  looked  upon  with  disfavor  by  large 
numbers  of  earnest  Christians. 

Child  Evangelism  is  employed  by  those 
who  would  have  the  whole  of  the  gospel  of 
Jesus  applied  to  the  life  of  the  little  ones. 
While  it  is  an  excellent  term,  some  who  em- 
ploy it  are  charged  with  stopping  short  of 
78 


Child  Disciplcship  79 

the  idea  of  spiritual  culture  for  the  lambs  of 
the  flock. 

Child  Discipleship  was  suggested  to  the 
writer  by  the  Rev.  C.  G.  Hazard  of  Catskill, 
N.  Y.,  as  being  a  term  thai  would  include 
all  that  is  necessary  in  treating  of  the  thought, 
THE  CHILD  FOR  Christ.   (See  Matt.  28: 19,  r.v.) 

Let  us  for  convenience  adopt  this  phrase, 
with  which  we  will  deal  in  a  series  of  ques- 
tions as  follows: 

What  is  Child  Discipleship  ? 

The  dictionaries  tell  us  that  the  verb,  to 
disciple,  comes  from  the  Latin  word  disco, 
to  learn,  and  that  it  means  to  teach,  to  train. 
The  noun  disciple  means  one  who  accepts 
and  follows  a  teacher  or  a  doctrine,  and  has 
come  to  include  the  following  ideas,  a  be- 
liever in,  a  learner,  a  pupil,  an  adherent,  a 
follower.  All  these  terms  may  be  applied 
to  the  thought  of  child  discipleship. 

In  this  case,  as  in  almost  every  other  one 
when  we  are  seeking  for  light  and  informa- 
tion on  spiritual  subjects,  the  Bible  furnishes 
us  with  the  help  we  need.  In  reference  to 
the  term  discipleship,    ''Jesus  said  to  the 


8o  The  Child  for  Christ 

Jews,  which  believed  on  Him,  If  ye  continue 
in  My  word,  then  are  ye  My  disciples  in- 
deed, and  ye  shall  know  the  truth  and  the 
truth  shall  make  you  free"  (JohnS:  51,  32). 
True,  we  have  been  accustomed  to  think 
of  this  comprehensive  statement  as  referring 
to  adults,  but  does  it  not  belong  equally 
well  to  the  little  children  ?  It  gives  us  the 
five  elements  of  child  discipleship,  namely: 

1.  Belief  in  Jesus. 

2.  Knowledge  of  His  word. 

3.  Continuance  in  His  word  (or  obe- 
dience). 

4.  Knowledge  of  the  truth.  This  in- 
cludes knowledge  of  Jesus,  who  is  the  truth. 

5.  Spiritual  freedom. 

This  last  is  the  end  aimed  at  in  true  disci- 
pleship, freedom  from  superstition,  freedom 
from  sin,  freedom  from  the  penalty  of  sin, 
freedom  from  fear. 

Why  Disciple  the  Child  ? 

Because  if  a  child  is  not  discipled  for 
Christ,  he  or  she  most  likely  is  being  nur- 
tured in  those  things  which  are  against  Christ. 

Most  absurd  is  the  position  of  those  par- 


Child  Discipleship  81 

ents  who  declare:  I  do  not  wish  to  unduly 
influence  my  child  in  regard  to  religious 
matters.  I  wish  him  to  grow  up  without  a 
bias  and  to  choose  intelligently  when  he  is 
old  enough  to  do  so  for  himself. 

Unduly  influenced!  If  children  are  not 
influenced  for  Christ  they  are  being  most 
strongly  and  persistently  influenced  against 
Him.  Without  a  bias!  No  child  can  grow 
up  without  a  bias.  If  he  is  not  being 
turned  to  Christ,  he  is  being  turned  away 
from  Christ. 

Nay,  nay,  parent,  you  do  not  talk  and  act 
thus  in  regard  to  anything  else.  You  influ- 
ence and  bias  your  child  as  to  what  he  shall 
eat  and  drink,  as  to  what  he  shall  wear,  as 
to  his  physical  culture  and  intellectual  de- 
velopment. Very  foolish  would  you  be  if 
you  did  not.  Will  you  be  unwise  in  regard 
to  the  most  important  part  of  your  child's 
make-up,  his  spiritual  nature,  and  not  influ- 
ence him  early,  strongly,  and  persistently 
but  lovingly  Christward  ? 

When  Disciple  a  Child  ? 
I.     As  soon  as  possible,  the  earlier  the 


82  The  Child  for  Christ 

better.  Conventionally  speaking  your  child 
that  lives  in  the  house  which  you  call  his 
body  is  made  up  of  mind  and  spirit.  Your 
work  is  to  bring  his  spirit  into  the  proper 
relationship  with  the  Eternal  Spirit.  The 
spirit  is  to  be  reached  through  the  mind. 
Impressions  on  the  mind  are  made  very 
early  and  in  various  ways.  Therefore,  the 
child's  nurture  in  spiritual  things  should 
commence: 

1.  As  soon  as  he  begins  to  think.  The 
developing  intellect  of  the  little  one  should 
be  an  avenue  through  which  he  may  come 
to  know  God. 

2.  As  soon  as  he  begins  to  be  influenced 
by  his  emotions.  The  sensibilities  should 
be  employed  in  the  effort  to  lead  the  child 
to  Christ  as  soon  as  he  is  susceptible  to 
those  influences  which  result  in  emotions. 
As  with  the  man  so  with  the  child  is  it  true 
that  with  the  heart  he  believeth  unto  right- 
eousness. 

3.  As  soon  as  he  begins  to  form  judg- 
ments. One  office  of  the  Holy  Spirit  is  to 
bring  man's  will  into  conformity  with  the 
Divine  will.     The  parent  should  begin  to 


Child  Discipleship  83 

work  with  God  in  this  effort  just  as  soon  as 
the  child  begins  to  exercise  its  will.  Not  a 
broken  will,  but  a  strong  will  in  harmony 
with  God's  will  is  the  ideal  of  Christian 
obedience.  Such  a  will  may  be  developed 
very  easily  in  childhood. 

II.  The  effort  to  disciple  the  child,  thus 
early  begun  should  be  continued  until  man- 
hood or  v/omanhood  is  reached.  While 
there  are  many  parents  and  teachers  who 
do  not  begin  the  process  early  enough,  there 
are  also  many  who  discontinue  it  too  soon. 
If  the  child  is  properly  trained  in  infancy,  it 
will  not  be  difficult  to  continue  the  training. 
Care  should  be  taken,  however,  to  continue 
the  work  on  through  childhood  and  ado- 
lescence, even  though  during  the  later  period 
there  be  restlessness  or  even  rebellion  on 
the  part  of  the  youth. 

III.  The  work  of  discipling  should  be 
continuous.  Patience,  perseverance  and 
unceasing  vigilance  must  be  exercised.  The 
price  seems  to  be  large,  but,  oh!  how  great 
will  be  the  dividends  yielded  both  in  time 
and  eternity.  Haphazard,  intermittent  ef- 
forts on  the  part  of  those  who  handle  the 


84  The  Child  for  Christ 

young  are  responsible  for  much  of  the  poor 
discipleship  which  every  thoughtful  person 
laments. 

Where  Disciple  the  Child? 
Most  of  the  answer  to  this  question  is 
given  in  the  preceding  paragraphs. 

I.  In  the  home.  Nothing  really  ever 
takes  the  place  of  a  genuine  Christian  cul- 
ture in  the  home  during  the  years  of  child- 
hood. Because  of  a  ready  yielding  to  the 
work  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  many  of  those 
who  were  deprived  of  such  home  culture 
have  become  grand  Christians,  but  they  are 
the  first  to  admit  that  they  have  lost  much 
because  of  the  lack  of  such  culture. 

II.  In  the  Church.  More  and  more  is  it 
coming  to  be  recognized  that  the  local 
church  is  an  institution  whose  duty  it  is, 
among  a  variety  of  other  things,  to  nurture 
the  young.  No  longer  is  the  average  church 
official  represented  as  a  judge  whose  busi- 
ness it  is  to  sit  in  judgment  on  the  misdeeds 
of  the  young,  but  as  an  intelligent,  careful 
trainer  who  by  his  wise  and  loving  over- 
sight,  sympathy   and   helpfulness,   supple- 


Child  Discipleship  85 

merits  the  efforts  of  the  parents  in  the 
discipling  of  their  children  or  who  takes  the 
place  of  the  parents  for  those  who  do  not 
have  the  advantages  of  home  culture. 

III.  In  the  Bible-school.  The  teacher 
who  considers  her  work  finished  when  she 
hears  a  lesson  on  Sunday,  belongs  to  the 
dark  ages  of  Bible-school  work.  Because 
of  her  nearness  to  the  children,  and  because 
of  her  many  opportunities  for  impressing 
them  with  the  truth,  the  modern  Sunday- 
school  teacher  recognizes  that  next  to  the 
home  the  Sunday-school  class  is  the  place 
where  children  can  best  be  nurtured  for  the 
Lord.  Thank  God  for  the  ever  increasing 
army  of  men  and  women  who  appreciate 
and  improve  their  opportunities  in  this 
regard. 

IV.  In  children's  meeting.  Many 
churches,  especially  in  cities  and  in  villages 
now  have  their  children's  meeting  in  which 
the  work  of  the  home  and  of  the  Sunday- 
school  is  further  supplemented  in  the  effort 
to  bring  an  added  influence  to  bear  on  the 
Christian  culture  of  the  child. 

In  cases  where  there  is  little  or  no  home 


86  The  Child  for  Christ 

culture  these  meetings  are  of  great  value  in 
supplying,  if  only  in  a  very  imperfect  v^ay, 
that  which  is  lacking  in  the  home. 

V.  In  the  pastor's  class.  In  many 
churches  the  pastor  has  a  class  composed  of 
young  people.  Some  classes  are  made  up 
of  those  who  have  confessed  Christ  on  de- 
cision day  or  at  the  public  services  and  are 
now  preparing  for  church  membership. 
Other  classes  contain  those  who  are  under 
Christian  instruction  for  the  purpose  of 
nurture  and  training  without  any  especial 
thought  of  church  membership.  The 
writer  has  heard  of  children  being  in  such 
classes  for  two  years  or  over.  In  these 
classes,  the  wise,  active  pastor  finds  a  large 
field  for  very  fruitful  services. 

VI.  In  every  place.  It  should  never  be 
forgotten  that  there  is  no  place  where  a 
Christian  can  meet  a  child  without  the  elder 
influencing  the  younger.  How  different 
would  be  the  lives  of  many  Christians  were 
they  to  frequently  ask  themselves:  What 
can  I  do  to  help  make  true  disciples  of 
these  little  ones  whom  I  meet  from  time  to 
time  ? 


Child  Discipleship  87 

By  Whom  Should  the  Child  be  Discipled  ? 
The  answers  to  the  preceding  questions 
give  the  answers  to  this  one.     They  need 
only  be  recalled.     By 

I.  Parents  and  the  elder  members  of  the 
family. 

II.  Pastor  and  church  officials. 

III.  Bible-school  Teacher. 

IV.  Leader  of  the  Children's  Meeting. 

V.  Christians  Generally. 

In  his  travels  over  the  state  of  New  York 
the  writer  finds  a  steadily  and  rapidly  in- 
creasing body  of  Christians  of  all  denomina- 
tions who  are  devoting  themselves  to  the 
work  of  child  discipleship.  There  are  many 
who  sympathize  with  the  pastor  referred  to 
in  the  following  extract  from  a  letter: 

"Our  pastor  said  the  other  day  that  he 
had  come  to  the  conclusion  that  if  the  old 
sinners  that  he  had  been  after  so  long  were 
bound  to  go  to  the  devil,  he  was  going  to 
let  them  go  and  would  spend  the  rest  of  his 
life  for  the  children." 


88  The  Child  for  Christ 

REVIEW 


CHILD  DISCIPLESHIP 

TERMS  EMPLOYED 
CHILD  CONVERSION 
.  CHILD  CULTURE 
CHILD  EVANGELISM 
CHILD  DISCIPLESHIP 


II 
III 

WHAT? 
WHY? 

IV 

WHEN? 

I. 

EARLY 

2. 

CONTINUED 

3- 

CONTINUOUS 

V 

WHERE  ? 
I. 

HOME 

2. 

CHURCH 

3- 

BIBLE-SCHOOL 

4. 

CHILDREN'S  MEETING 

5- 

PASTOR'S  CLASS 

6. 

IN  EVERY  PLACE 

VI 

BY  WHOM 

? 
PARENTS 

2. 

PASTOR 

3- 

TEACHER 

4- 

LEADER 

5- 

CHRISTIANS 

Child  Discipleship  (continued) 

what  is  the  basis  of  child  discipleship  ? 
As  in  the  case  of  so  many  questions 
which  men  are  prone  to  discuss  vaguely, 
the  answer  has  been  given  by  the  Great 
Lover  of  children  Himself.  The  basis  of 
child  discipleship,  as  of  adult  discipleship, 
should  be  the  truths  founded  on  the  one 
word  LOVE. 

"Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with 
all  thy  heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul,  and  with 
all  thy  mind.  This  is  the  first  and  great 
commandment.  And  the  second  is  like 
unto  it.  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as 
thyself.  On  these  two  commandments 
hang  all  the  law  and  the  prophets  "  (Matt. 
22\  37-40).  Coupled  with  this  should  be 
the  definition  of  God  as  given  by  John  the 
Beloved:  "God  is  love"  (i  John  4:  8)  and 
the  statement  :  "We  love  Him  because  He 
first  loved  us"  (  i  John  4:  19). 
89 


90 


The  Child  for  Christ 


Have  we  not  in  these  few  verses  just 
what  is  needed  as  the  basis  for  child  dis- 
cipleship  ?  The  child  should  be  early  and 
continually  taught  that: 

I.  God  is  love.  Many  children  have  con- 
ceptions of  God  which  are  not  in  accord 
with  the  essence  of  the  Heavenly  Father. 

II.  God  loves  him  always.  Blessed  is 
that  child  who  early  grasps  the  thought 
that  no  matter  what  he  is  or  what  he  does 
God  loves  him.  "God  will  not  love  you  if 
you  do  that,"  is  a  declaration  that  has  no 
place  in  true  Christian  culture. 

III.  He  should  love  God  supremely. 
Above  the  love  for  father  or  mother  or 
friends  should  come  the  love  of  the  child 
for  its  Heavenly  Father,  who  has  done  so 
much  for  him.  "1  love  God  first  and  1 
love  my  mamma  second,"  was  the  declara- 
tion of  a  boy  of  five,  which  occasioned 
much  surprise  on  the  part  of  some  who 
heard  it.     Why  should  it  not  be  so  ? 

IV.  Every  action,  whether  it  be  what  is 
conventionally  known  as  a  religious  one  or 
a  secular  one,  should  be  based  on  love  for 
God.     Some    will    object    to    this   on   the 


Child  Discipleship  91 

ground  that  the  child  is  too  young  to  under- 
stand. He  is  not  too  young,  if  the  truth  is 
put  before  him  simply.  Much  of  the  mis- 
chief done  by  adult  Christians  grows  out  of 
the  theory  that  there  are  some  times  and 
some  places  that  are  rehgious,  and  that 
other  times  and  places  are  not  religious. 

V.  Love  for  God  is  manifested  by  love 
for  one's  fellows.  No  child  should  be  per- 
mitted to  say  "  I  love  God,"  without  being 
taught  that  his  love  for  God  must  be  shown 
by  his  love  for  those  about  him.  (See 
I  John  4:  20.) 

VI.  Love  for  others  is  manifested  in 
word  and  action.  Hence,  the  little  one 
should  be  taught  from  the  very  beginning 
to  carry  out  literally  the  words  of  the 
Master:  "  As  ye  would  that  men  should  do 
to  you,  do  ye  also  to  them  likewise"  (Luke 
6:31). 

To  be  sure  this  method  of  discipling  will 
be  very  difficult,  but,  if  persevered  in,  it 
will  result  in  less  talking  about  and  singing 
about  love,  and  in  more  love  on  the  part  of 
the  disciples  of  Him  who  loved  us  enough 
to  give  His  life  for  us. 


92  The  Child  for  Christ 

What  is  the  Child's  Relationship  to  Jesus  ? 

Better  than  talking  about  being  good  is 
the  effort  to  get  the  child  into  vital  relation- 
ship with  the  source  of  goodness.  Instead 
of  telling  the  young  disciple  to  be  good  and 
perhaps  scolding  him  for  not  being  good, 
the  wise  nurturer,  whether  parent  or 
teacher,  will  endeavor  to  get  the  child  to 
come  into  personal  touch  with  Christ.  In 
this  endeavor  the  little  one  will  be  taught  that 

I.  Jesus  is  his  example.  The  child  Jesus 
will  be  kept  before  the  mind,  and  he  who 
is  to  imitate  Him  will  be  taught  how  He  as 
a  child  grew  in 

1.  Wisdom  (Luke  2:40). 

2.  Stature. 

3.  Favor  with  God. 

4.  Favor  with  men  (Luke  2:  52). 

Under  all  possible  circumstances,  condi- 
tions and  contingencies,  the  trainer  should 
get  the  child  to  ask  sincerely:  What  would 
Jesus  have  done  about  this  when  He  was  a 
boy? 

II.  Jesus  is  his  helper.  To  tell  a  child  to 
be  good  without  showing  the  child  how  to 
have  help  to  be  good,  is  to  put  on  the  little 


Child  Disclpleship  93 

one  a  burden  grievous  to  be  borne.  The 
young  disciple  should  be  taught  that  Jesus 
wishes  to  help  him  to  be  good,  because  He 
loves  him  and  desires  to  have  him  good. 
Moreover,  he  should  also  be  very  early  in- 
structed in  the  truth  that  among  other 
reasons  Jesus  is  able  to  help  those  who  are 
trying  to  do  right,  because  He  went  through 
all  the  experiences  of  a  child. 

III.  That  Jesus  wishes  children  to  con- 
fess Him.  Uniting  with  the  Church  is  one 
method  of  confessing  Christ,  but  not  the 
only  one.  Children  should  be  taught  that  it 
will  please  Jesus  and  do  them  good  to  con- 
fess Him  everywhere.  Care  should  be 
taken  to  explain  what  it  is  to  confess  Christ 
and  to  show  how  many  opportunities  there 
are  to  do  this  in  natural  and  quiet  ways. 

Note: — In  dealing  with  children  who  have 
not  been  nurtured  for  Christ  in  their  homes, 
the  very  first  effort  should  be  put  forth  to 
get  them  to  come  into  personal  touch  with 
Him.  Some  children  are  very  far  from 
Christ,  some  are  very  close  to  Him.  Some 
children  have  their  backs  turned  to  Christ, 
some  are  facing  in  His  direction.     Hence,  a 


94  The  Child  for  Christ 

knowledge  of  the  individual  is  necessary  on 
the  part  of  those  who  would  lead  the  child 
to  Christ. 

What  is  the  Child's  Relationship  to  Truth  ? 

The  word  truth  here  is  used  as  the  oppo- 
site of  deceit  and  lying.  It  is  not  diificult 
for  us  to  talk  about  the  untruthfulness  of 
the  Oriental,  but  the  fact  is  that  the  great 
sin  of  America  to-day  is  lying.  Society, 
business  and  politics  are  honeycombed  with 
deceit.  Clean-cut  distinctions  between 
truth  and  falsehood,  between  right  and 
wrong  seem  to  be  very  rare  in  these  days. 
Our  hope  for  the  future  of  our  nation  lies  in 
the  culture  of  the  young  of  to-day  who  are 
to  be  the  Christian  men  and  women  of  to- 
morrow. With  this  in  view  the  child 
should  be  taught 

I.  To  know  the  truth.  The  tendency  of 
children  to  exaggerate  because  of  the  work- 
ings of  their  imagination  is  recognized  and 
due  consideration  must  be  given  to  it. 
However,  without  blaming  the  child  for 
the  vagaries  of  its  imagination  or  trying  to 
destroy  the  power  thereof,    it  should  be 


Child  Discipleship  95 

taught  to  discriminate  clearly  between  truth 
and  falsehood,  and  to  put  in  their  proper 
relationships  the  results  of  a  vivid  imagina- 
tion. 

II.  To  tell  the  truth.  A  premium  should 
be  put  on  truth,  and  the  child  should  be 
urged  to  tell  it  regardless  of  consequences. 
Moreover,  he  should  be  taught  to  fear  a  lie 
as  much  as  he  does  the  smallpox. 

III.  To  stick  absolutely  to  the  truth. 
"Will  it  pay  ?"  is  the  question  that  is  too 
frequently  asked  at  the  expense  of  absolute 
truth.  Before  the  child  gets  into  this  at- 
mosphere where  the  dollar  rules,  he  should 
be  taught  that  a  lie  never  pays,  that  it  comes 
from  the  father  of  lies  and  that  "all  liars" 
shall  be  excluded  from  heaven,  where  all  is 
truth.     (See  Revelation  21 :  27  and  22 : 1 5.) 

IV.  To  measure  himself  and  all  ques- 
tions of  truthfulness  by  the  example  and 
standard  of  Jesus  instead  of  by  the  world's 
standards. 

What  is  the  Child's  Relationship  to  the 
Church  } 
Sad  are  the  mistakes  that  have  been  and 


96  The  Child  for  Christ 

are  being  made  by  those  who  put  the 
church  in  the  place  of  Jesus  Christ.  Re- 
cently, I  met  a  bright  girl  of  twelve  who 
told  me  that  her  grandmother  thought  that 
in  about  six  months  she  would  be  good 
enough  to  unite  with  the  church.  There 
was,  so  far  as  I  could  learn  by  questioning, 
no  effort  made  by  the  grandmother  to  bring 
the  child  into  loving,  vital  relations  with 
Jesus  Christ  as  suggested  above.  The 
church  seemed  to  be  both  the  means  and 
the  end  of  all  goodness  and  life.  In  view 
of  the  fact  that  there  are  so  many  Christians 
like  this  grandmother,  the  following  are 
suggested : 

I.  It  is  a  great  mistake  to  put  the  church 
in  the  place  of  Christ.  In  child  discipleship 
let  us  hear  more  about  union  with  Christ 
by  faith  and  less  about  uniting  with  the 
church. 

II.  If  the  child  voluntarily  asks  for  ad- 
mission to  the  church  and  gives  evidences 
of  love  for  Christ  and  willingness  to  obey 
Him,  he  should  be  admitted  to  church 
membership.  At  what  age  ?  No  rule  can 
be  given.     A  famous  president  of  a  theo- 


Child  Disciplcship  97 

logical  seminary  united  with  the  church  at 
seven  years  of  age.  Henry  Drummond 
publicly  confessed  Christ  at  nine  years  of 
age.  One  of  the  best  Christian  workers 
that  the  writer  has  ever  been  privileged  to 
know  joined  the  church  at  ten  years  of 
age. 

III.  Too  much  in  the  way  of  Christian 
experience  and  development  should  not  be 
expected  of  those  young  confessors.  They 
are  the  lambs  of  the  flock  to  be  folded,  fed 
and  nourished.  There  are  grandmothers 
to-day  who  are  demanding  from  their 
grandchildren  more  fruitage  than  they  them- 
selves are  yielding.  There  are  parents  who 
expect  more  from  their  children  than  they 
themselves  are  willing  to  yield  to  the  Lord. 
This  is  all  wrong. 

IV.  During  the  period  of  early  adoles- 
cence, these  young  Christians  should  be 
very  carefully  handled  and  many  allow- 
ances should  be  made  for  them.  They  are 
then  passing  through  a  phase  of  develop- 
ment which  has  rightly  been  called  ''the 
period  of  storm  and  stress."  The  church 
should  throw  around  them  all  possible  safe- 


98  The  Child  for  Christ 

guards  and  should  lovingly  and  patiently 
hold  on  to  them  until  they  come  into  the 
harbor  at  the  end  of  the  period.  For  a  few 
years  all  harsh  judgments  should  be  with- 
held. 

Judge  not !  the  workings  of  his  brain 
And  of  his  heart  thou  canst  not  see ; 

What  looks  to  thy  dim  eyes  a  stain, 
In  God's  pure  light  may  only  be 

A  scar  brought  from  some  well-won  field, 

"Where  thou  wouldst  only  faint  and  yield. 

— Adelaide  Procter. 

How  ? 

The  natural  and  legitimate  question  is: 
How  is  all  this  discipling  to  be  accom- 
plished.? While  much  will  depend  upon 
the  characteristics  of  the  young  disciple  and 
much  upon  the  wisdom  and  tact  of  the  one 
who  trains  him,  the  following  are  suggested 
in  a  general  way  as  answers  to  the 
"How?" 

I.  By  atmosphere.  As  in  the  natural 
realm,  so  in  the  spiritual  realm,  much  de- 
pends on  atmosphere.  An  atmosphere 
dominated  by  the  Spirit  of  Christ  will  do 
much  to  influence  the  child  for  Him  with- 
out any  formal  teaching.     Hence,  the  chief 


Child  Discipleship  99 

effort  of  parents  should  be  to  have  their 
home  the  abiding  place  of  the  unseen 
Christ.  Officers  and  teachers  of  the  Sun- 
day-school should  make  it  their  main  work 
to  have  the  atmosphere  of  the  school  per- 
meated with  the  Spirit  of  Christ. 

II.  By  example.  There  is  no  power  in 
precept  unless  it  is  backed  up  by  example. 
Hence,  parents  and  teachers  of  the  young 
should  be  more  particular  about  what  they 
are  and  what  they  do  than  about  what  they 
teach.  This  is  frequently  reversed  with  the 
result  that  good  teaching  is  nullified  by  poor 
living. 

III.  By  stories.  Very  little  children  es- 
pecially are  very  susceptible  to  truth  con- 
veyed in  story  form.  Blessed,  therefore, 
is  that  parent  or  teacher  who  has  learned  to 
teach  by  telling  stories.  They  who  have 
not  so  learned  should  try  to  do  so. 

IV.  By  reading.  After  the  child  passes 
his  eighth  birthday,  he  begins  to  read  for 
himself.  This  is  the  golden  opportunity  of 
the  one  who  wishes  to  disciple  him.  Bible- 
stories  especially  should  be  given  to  him, 
and  story  books  that    will    inculcate    the 


lOO         The  Child  for  Christ 

truths  to  be  learned  should  be  put  into  his 
hands.  Children  from  nine  years  of  age 
upwards  will  read.  The  only  question  is: 
What  will  they  read .?  The  answer  to  this 
depends  upon  parents  and  teachers. 

V.  By  conversation.  Why  do  most 
Christian  parents  in  their  homes  talk  about 
everything  else  but  religion  ?  Why  not  talk 
to  the  children  in  a  natural  way  about  those 
things  that  are  of  vital  importance  ?  The 
writer  once  took  a  walk  through  the  woods 
with  a  girl  of  nine.  To  his  surprise  he 
found  himself  conversing  with  her  in  the 
most  natural,  unconventional  way  about  re- 
ligious topics.  Why  his  surprise?  Be- 
cause it  was  so  unusual  to  find  one  able  and 
willing  to  converse  in  this  way.  Subse 
quent  inquiries  disclosed  the  fact  that  relig- 
ion was  as  much  a  part  of  the  household 
talk  in  the  child's  home  as  were  the  ordinary 
secular  affairs  of  life.  Alas!  that  this  home 
should  be  such  an  exception.  Alas!  that 
parents  and  teachers  neglect  the  most  nat- 
ural and  easiest  way  of  discipling  the 
child. 


Child  Discipleship  lOl 

REVIEW 


CHILD  DISCIPLESHIP 

ITS  BASIS— LOVE 

ITS  RELATIONSHIP  TO 

1.  JESUS 

2.  TRUTH 

3.  THE  CHURCH 

ACCOMPLISHED  BY 

1.  ATMOSPHERE 

2.  EXAMPLE 

3.  STORIES 

4.  READING 

5.  CONVERSATION 


XI 

The  Worker's  Privilege 

Years  ago,  a  conscientious,  hard-work- 
ing, discouraged  teacher  came  to  her  pastor, 
who  was  also  the  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school,  in  which  she  taught  a  group 
of  adolescents  and  declared — "I  am  going 
to  give  up  my  class  of  boys." 

"Why?" 

"Because  I  cannot  bear  the  thought  that 
I  am  responsible  for  their  salvation.  It  al- 
most kills  me  to  think  that  I  cannot  lead 
them  to  Christ." 

Without  pausing  to  seriously  consider  the 
force  of  his  words,  the  pastor  promptly 
answered:  "You  are  not  responsible  for 
the  salvation  of  your  boys." 

"  I  am  not!  For  what  then  am  I  respon- 
sible, as  their  teacher  ?  " 

The  interrogated  one  was  not  prepared 
for  the  pleading  expression  in  the  eyes  look- 
ing into  his,  nor  for  the  vehemence  with 


The  Worker's  Privilege       103 

which  the  question  was  hurled  at  him. 
There  was  no  opportunity  for  reasoning, 
no  necessity  for  circumlocution,  so  he  an- 
swered at  once: 

"You  are  responsible  for  knowing  the 
truth,  for  teaching  the  truth  and  for  living 
the  truth.  There  your  responsibility  ends. 
If  I  felt  that  1  was  responsible  for  the  salva- 
tion of  the  people  who  face  me  on  Sunday 
nights,  I  would  not  dare  preach  to  them. 
If  I  proclaim  the  truth  and  live  it,  my  respon- 
sibility ends.  If  my  hearers  reject  the  truth 
the  responsibility  for  doing  so  rests  upon 
them.     So  is  it  with  your  boys." 

The  teacher  departed  and  resigned  her 
position  in  the  Sunday-school.  The  pastor 
was  led  to  carefully  consider  his  answer  in 
order  to  ascertain  whether  he  had  spoken 
wisely.  He  came  to  the  conclusion  that  he 
had  declared  the  truth  to  the  teacher  and 
years  of  reflection  on  the  subject  have  not 
led  him  to  change  his  mind,  although  he  has 
heard  more  than  one  zealous  orator  tell 
teachers  that  they  are  responsible  for  the 
salvation  of  their  pupils. 

In  the  hope  that  some  who  are  troubled 


104  The  Child  for  Christ 

in  reference  to  their  responsibility  may  be 
helped,  we  ask  on  their  part  a  prayerful 
consideration  of  their  responsibility.  For 
what  is  the  Christian  worker  responsible  ? 
We  answer: 

1.  For  Knowing  the  Truth.  The  teacher 
should  know  truth  generally.  For  his  own 
sake  first  of  all  and  for  his  pupils'  sake  in 
the  second  place,  he  should  make  it  the  aim 
and  the  prayer  of  his  life  to  know  the  truth 
as  it  is  in  Christ  Jesus.  To  help  him  in  this 
endeavor,  God  has  given  the  Bible,  has  sent 
His  Holy  Spirit  and  has  led  many  to  study, 
to  speak  and  to  write  so  that  none  need  re- 
main in  ignorance  of  the  truth  in  these  days 
of  enlightenment.  Surely  He  who  gave  the 
Ethiopian  eunuch  the  truth  for  which  he 
sought  in  bygone  days  is  able  and  willing 
to-day  to  make  known  the  truth  to  every 
sincere  seeker  therefor.  If  in  this  age,  one 
abide  in  darkness  rather  than  live  in  light,  is 
he  not  responsible  for  that  darkness  ? 

In  addition  to  knowing  the  truth  gen- 
erally,  the  teacher  should  know  that  especial 
truth  which  he  wishes  to  teach  at  any  par- 
ticular time.     Hence,  there  is  laid  upon  the 


The  Worker's  Privilege       105 

instructor  the  responsibility  of  careful  prep- 
aration of  the  lessons  to  be  taught  on  the 
various  Sundays.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that 
many  Sunday-school  workers  do  not  seem 
to  realize  their  responsibility  in  this  respect. 

Moreover,  the  one  who  is  to  lead  the  child 
to  Christ  must  know  the  truth  that  the  par- 
ticular child  needs  in  order  to  come  to 
Christ. 

II.  For  Teaching  the  Truth.  There  are 
many  frameworks  for,  and  numerous  meth- 
ods of  conveying  the  truth.  Are  there  not 
many  workers  who  spend  so  much  time 
with  the  setting  or  in  talking  about  the 
method  of  communication  that  they  seldom 
really  touch  the  truth  ?  Are  not  such  under- 
estimating or  shirking  their  responsibility  ? 
The  Sunday-school  teacher  should  feel  that 
he  is  responsible  for  so  teaching  one  vital 
truth  on  each  Sunday  that  every  member  of 
the  class  will  understand  it.  The  realization 
of  this  responsibility  will  have  much  to  do 
with  correct  habits  in  lesson  preparation  and 
with  intelligent  methods  in  lesson  presenta- 
tion. He  who  realizes  his  responsibility  in 
this  respect  will  not  be  haphazard  in  his  work 


io6         The  Child  for  Christ 

nor  will  he  take  much  for  granted.  He  will 
be  a  student  of  the  art  of  questioning. 

Likewise  the  worker  who  deals  with  the 
child  whether  it  be  from  the  pulpit,  in  the 
home,  or  in  the  meeting  for  children,  real- 
izing his  responsibility  for  teaching  the 
truth,  will  endeavor  to  learn  how  to  teach. 

III.  For  Living  the  Truth.  More  and 
more  are  intelligent  workers  coming  to  un- 
derstand that  it  is  not  so  much  what  they  say 
as  what  they  do  that  influences  the  pupils 
whom  they  instruct  in  things  pertaining  to 
righteousness.  Keen  eyes  are  watching 
those  who  point  the  way  to  Christ  and  alert 
minds  are  forming  conclusions.  The  teacher 
should  endeavor  to  so  live  the  truth  that  the 
child  with  the  highest  ideals  will  not  be  dis- 
appointed in  him  and  that  the  most  critical 
mind  will  see  nothing  in  him  to  which  to 
take  exception. 

This  thought  of  the  power  of  truth  lived 
should  be  a  mighty  inspiration  and  a  great 
incentive  to  the  worker.  There  are  many 
who  regret  that  they  are  not  more  eloquent 
in  preaching  the  truth  or  more  skillful  in 
teaching  it.     There  need  be  no  such  regrets, 


The  Worker's  Privilege       107 

when  it  is  borne  in  mind  that  the  most  pow- 
erful preaching  and  the  most  enduring  teach- 
ing is  through  the  truth  lived.  Workers  for 
Christ,  be  what  you  wish  your  pupils  to  be, 
do  what  you  wish  them  to  do  and  you  are 
nobly  measuring  up  to  your  responsibility. 
You  are  talking  to  them  in  a  language  which 
they  can  both  understand  and  appreciate. 

When  all  this  and  much  more  that  might 
be  added  has  been  said,  is  it  not  evident 
that  in  talking  about  the  worker's  responsi- 
bility we  have  come  very  much  below  the 
plane  on  which  we  ought  to  be  standing  ? 
Should  those  to  whom  is  entrusted  work 
that  angels  would  do  joyously  talk  about 
responsibility?  Are  they  not  enjoying 
great  and  blessed  privileges  in  being  per- 
mitted to  lead  the  child  to  Christ  ?  Should 
we  not  consider  the  workers'  privilege 
rather  than  their  responsibility  ?  Think  of 
the  privilege  that  one  has  in  the  possibility  of 

Studying  the  most  wonderful  book. 
He  who  will  lead  a  little  one  to  Christ 
has  put  into  his  hands  the  most  won- 
derful book  that  the  world  has  ever  had. 
Take  the  Zend-Avesta,  the  Vedas,  the  Con- 


io8         The  Child  for  Christ 

fucian  Classics,  the  Tao-ti-King,  the  Kojiki, 
the  Koran,  consider  them  individually  or 
collectively,  view  them  from  whatever 
standpoint  is  suggested  and  then  alongside 
them  lay  the  Bible.  There  is  no  compari- 
son between  any  or  all  of  them  and  it  in  re- 
gard to  what  the  Bible  offers  to  man  and 
what  it  has  done  for  man.  Verily  the 
Christian  worker  has  a  high  privilege  in 
having  such  a  book  to  study,  such  a  book 
from  which  to  teach. 

Studying  the  Most  Wonderful  Material. 
God's  greatest  work  is  man.  The  study  of 
man  is  the  most  fascinating  work  in  which 
we  can  engage.  The  little  child  is  the  most 
wonderful  of  human  beings.  The  worker 
who  is  to  lead  the  child  to  Christ  must 
study  him  in  order  to  be  able  to  present  the 
necessary  truth  in  the  proper  manner. 
Many  now  realize  how  high  is  the  privilege 
which  they  enjoy  in  being  permitted  to 
study  the  child  in  order  to  lead  him  to 
Christ.  Many  others  are  just  beginning  to 
awaken  to  their  privileges  in  this  respect. 
May  the  time  speedily  come  when  we  shall 
hear  more  about  the  privilege  of,  and  less 


The  Worker's  Privilege       109 

about  the  responsibility  for,  child  study  on 
the  part  of  those  who  are  to  lead  the  child 
to  Christ. 

Serving  the  Best  Master.  The  worker 
who  is  not  acquainted  with  Jesus  Christ  is 
missing  the  greatest  of  the  many  privileges 
that  he  should  enjoy.  The  one  who  knows 
Him  best,  realizes  the  most  how  good  a 
Master  He  is.  Worker,  when  you  know 
Jesus,  like  those  of  old,  "  count  it  all  joy  " 
to  serve  Him.  Your  highest,  most  lasting 
joy  will  come  from  that  form  of  service  in 
which  you  lead  the  child  to  Him. 

Working  for  the  Best  Results.  He  that 
leads  a  child  to  Christ  has  done  the  very 
best  that  can  be  done  for  that  child  and  so 
far  as  the  child  is  concerned,  for  his  home, 
his  Sunday-school,  his  church,  his  commu- 
nity, the  nation  and  the  kingdom  of  Christ. 
From  such  work  come  the  very  best  results 
for  time. 

What  of  eternity  ?  Certainly  from  that 
standpoint,  the  very  best  results  come  from 
efforts  to  get  the  children  to  know  Christ, 
whom  to  know  is  everlasting  life. 

The  teacher  referred  to  at  the  opening  of 


no         The  Child  for  Christ 

this  chapter  was  afterwards  led  to  realize 
the  privilege  of  service  and  came  back  to 
the  school  from  which  she  had  resigned. 
A  large  class  of  primary  children  was  given 
into  her  care.  Among  these  children  she 
labored  joyously  for  years,  because  she 
realized  what  a  great  privilege  was  hers. 
She  was  the  instrument  of  leading  many  of 
them  to  the  Saviour.  She  has  gone  to  her 
reward.  Is  that  reward  any  the  less  because 
she  was  privileged  to  lead  children  to 
Christ  ? 

I  shall  be  satisfied  when  I  see  my  Saviour 
face  to  face.  If  there  is  anything  that  will 
add  to  that  satisfaction  it  will  be  the  con- 
sciousness that  while  on  earth  I  embraced 
the  privilege  of  so  striving  to  influence 
others  that  they  too  are  to  spend  their  eter- 
nity with  Him  who  loved  them  and  gave 
His  life  for  them.  Will  not  this  be  the  case 
with  every  one  who  labors  to  bring  the  lit- 
tle ones  to  Him  ?  Let  us  then  make  the 
most  of  our  privileges  until  He  shall  say, 
"Well  done  good  and  faithful  servant." 


The  Worker's  Privilege        1 1 1 


REVIEW 


THE  CHRISTIAN  WORKER  IS  RESPON- 
SIBLE FOR 


KNOWING 

TEACHING 

LIVING 


e  f 


THE    CHRISTIAN    WORKER    HAS    THE 
PRIVILEGE  OF 

THE      MOST      WONDERFUL 


MOST     WONDERFUL 


STUDYING 

BOOK 
STUDYING      THE 

MATERIAL 
SERVING     THE    BEST    MASTER 
WORKING  FOR  THE  BEST  RESULTS 


XII 

Bibliography 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  there  are  not 
more  books  dealing  directly  with  the  sub- 
ject: The  Child  for  Christ.  The  best 
known  are  the  numbers  of  tracts  and  books 
by  the  Rev.  Edward  Payson  Hammond, 
who  has  led  many,  both  young  and  old,  to 
the  Saviour.  Two  of  his  books  especially 
have  been  very  widely  circulated : 

Early  Conversion.  Published  by  J.  S. 
Ogilvie  Publishing  Company. 

Conversion  of  Children.  Published  by 
Fleming  H.  Revell  Company. 

The  Children  for  Christ,  by  the  Rev. 
Andrew  Murray,  containing  "thoughts  for 
Christian  parents  on  the  consecration  of  the 
home  life,"  like  all  of  Mr.  Murray's  writings 
is  deeply  spiritual  and  very  stimulating  to 
the  thoughtful  reader. 

The  following  have  been  very  suggestive 
to  the  writer: 

112 


Bibliography  113 

The  Teacher,  the  Child,  and  the  Book, 
by  the  Rev.  A.  F.  Schauffler,  D.  D. 

Trained  for  Discipleship.    Cheesebrough. 

Children's  Day.  **  Addresses  to  children 
and  parents  on  familiar  subjects  of  life  and 
duty,"  James  Gardiner  Vose,  D.  D. 

Hints  on  Child  Training.  H.  Clay  Trum- 
bull, D.  D. 

Hints  on  Early  Education.  Funk  and 
Wagnalls  Co.,  Publishers. 

The  Boy  Problem.  William  Byron  For- 
bush,  Ph.  D. 


Booklets. 

There  are  a  number  of  booklets  and 
tracts  bearing  on  our  subject.  The  writer 
has  examined  and  can  recommend  heartily 
the  following: 

1.  Decision  Day  in  the  Sunday-school, 
by  j.  Wilbur  Chapman,  D.  D.  Published 
by  The  General  Evangelistic  Union,  302 
West  91st  St.,  New  York. 

2.  The  Sunday-school  as  an  Evangeli- 
zing Agency,  by  Rev.  William  Woodbury 
Pratt.     Published  by  William  Philips  Hall, 


114  The  Child  for  Christ 

44  Broad  St.,  New  York,  for  gratuitous  dis- 
tribution. 

3.  Preaching  to  Children,  by  Rev.  Rich- 
ard W.  Lewis.  Published  by  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  Publishing  House,  Nash- 
ville, Tenn. 

4.  A  Day  of  Decision  in  the  Sabbath- 
school.  Published  by  Pennsylvania  State 
Sunday-school  Association. 


General. 

The  following  are  recommended  for  the 
purposes  indicated  by  their  titles: 

A  Lie  Never  Justifiable.  H.  Clay  Trum- 
bull, D.  D. 

Beckonings  From  Little  Hands.  Patter- 
son DuBois. 

Children's  Meetings.     Marguerite  Cook. 

Children's  Meetings  and  How  to  Conduct 
Them.  Lucy  J.  Rider  and  Nellie  M.  Car- 
men. 

Christian  Nurture.     Horace  Bushnell. 

Children's  Rights.  Kate  Douglass  Wig- 
gin. 

Child's  Christ- Tales.     Hofer. 


Bibliography  I15 

Five  Minute  Object  Sermons  for  Children. 
Sylvanus  Stall,  D.  D. 

How  John  and  I  Brought  up  the  Child. 
Fletcher  Durell,  Ph.  D. 

New  Life  in  Education.  Fletcher  Durell, 
Ph.  D. 

Object  Lessons  for  Children.  Rev.  C.  H. 
Tyndall,  Ph.  D. 

Piobable  Sons:  (A  story  for  parents  and 
teachers).  Published  by  Fleming  H.  Revell 
Company. 

Rescue  of  Child  Soul.     Crafts. 

Study  of  Child  Nature.  Elizabeth  Har- 
rison. 

Talks  to  Boys  and  Girls  About  Jesus. 
Rev.  W.  F.  Crafts,  D.  D. 

Talks  to   Children.     Rev.   T.   T.   Eaton, 

D.  D. 

Talks  to  the  King's  Children.  Sylvanus 
Stall,  D.  D. 

The  Children's  Preacher.  Rev.  J.  Reid 
Howatt. 

The  Place  of  the  Story  in  Education.    Sara 

E.  Wiltse. 

The  Point  of  Contact  in  Teaching.  Pat- 
terson Du  Bois. 


li6         The  Child  for  Christ 

For  Communicants'  Classes. 

The  Rev.  George  Leidy,  Altoona,  Pa., 
has  published  a  series  of  booklets  ''in- 
tended for  the  instruction  of  children  and 
young  people."  They  are  especially  for 
Methodists.  The  third  of  the  series,  how- 
ever, entitled  ''Light  From  Above,"  is  an 
exposition  of  The  Apostles'  Creed  in  the 
form  of  a  catechism  and  is  recommended 
to  all  those  who  wish  to  give  instruction  in 
the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Christian 
Religion. 

Christian  Teachings,  "  arranged  for  con- 
venient use  in  the  instruction  of  the  young," 
by  William  James  Mutch,  Ph.  D.,  (366 
Howard  Ave.,  New  Haven,  Conn.)  has 
been  welcomed  by  many  pastors  and  lead- 
ers of  classes  for  young  people. 

Cards. 
Many  requests  have  been  received  at  the 
office  of  the  New  York  State  Sunday-school 
Association  for  cards  to  be  used  in  connec- 
tion with  decision  day  services.  The  best 
plan  is  for  each  church  to  print  its  own  card. 
The  following  are  given  as  specimens: 


Bibliography  117 


DECISION  CARD. 


♦'  Choose  ye  this   day  whom   ye   will 
serve."— Josh.  24 :  15. 

GOD  HELPING  ME  I  do  here  and  now 
receive  Jesus  Christ  as  my  Saviour, 
and  determine  to  follow  Him  as  my  Lord 
to  the  end  of  my  life. 

Name „ - 

Address „ Date „ 190 

"  In  the  Lord  is  everlasting  strength." 
— Is.  26 :  3. 

HAND  TO  PASTOR. 


Ii8  The  Child  for  Christ 


I 


MY  confession; 

BELIEVE  that  God  so  loved  the  world 
that  He  gave  His  only  begotten  Son, 
that  whosoever  believeth  in  Him  should 
not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life. 

I  believe  that  Jesus  loved  me  and  gave 
Himself  for  me. 

It  is  my  earnest  desire  to  love  Him  who 
first  loved  me,  and  to  trust  Him  who  died 
for  me. 

Realizing  that  1  cannot  save  myself, 
and  looking  to  God  for  strength,  1  accept 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  my  Saviour,  and 
will  endeavor  to  follow  His  example  and 
obey  His  commands. 

Name 

Date 


^  This  was  prepared  by  the  Rev.  Alexander  Henry, 
and  has  been  used  very  freely  by  the  Pennsylvania 
Sunday-school  Association. 


Bibliography  1 1 9 


DECISION  DAY. 

I  hereby  testify  by  signing  this  card 
my  determination  to  lead  a  Christian 
life. 

I  will  observe  the  Sabbath  Day,  read 
my  Bible  and  Commune  with  God 
daily. 

Name 

Teacher ....„ „ „ « — 

Residence - 

N.  B.   Will  you  join  the  Pastor's  Training  Class  ? — 


120         The  Child  for  Christ 


Covenant  Card. 
The  Rev.  Edward  Payson  Hammond  has 
used  very  extensively  a  four-paged  folder, 
on  the  first  page  of  which  is  his  photograph 
and  the  following: 

THE  COVENANT. 

I  believe  that  "  Christ  hath  loved  us  and 
hath  given  Himself  for  us"  (Eph.  5:2.). 

AND  THAT  I  CAN  TRULY  SAY 

Jesus,  take  this  heart  of  mine, 
Make  it  pure  and  wholly  Thine, 
Thou  hast  bled  and  died  for  me, 
I  will  henceforth  live  for  Thee. 

Name „ 

Date ^... 


Bibliography  1 2 1 

The  last  page  contains  the  following: 
MOTTO  FOR  YOUNG  CHRISTIANS. 


««  A  new  commandment  I  give  unto  you,  That  ye 
LOVE  ONE  ANOTHER;  as  I  have  loved  you,  that 
ye  also  love  one  another  "  (John  14  :  34). 

"  He  that  hath  My  commandments  and  keepeth  them, 
he  it  is  that  loveth  Me  "  (John  14  :  21). 

PROMISE. 

"  If  a  man  love  Me,  he  will  keep  My  words,  and  My 
Father  will  love  him,  and  We  will  come  unto  him,  and 

MAKE  OUR  ABODE  WITH  HIM"  (John  I4  :  23). 


Five  Great  Helps  in  the  Christian  Life. 

1.  Have  a  place  and  time  to  pray. 

2.  Read  the  Bible  every  day. 

[N.  B. — Read,  as  you  would  a  story,  Matthew, 
Mark,  Luke,  John  and  Acts,  then  skip  to  James, 
and  read  the  epistles — the  letters — of  James,  John, 
(the  beloved  disciple,)  Peter,  Jude  and  the  Reve- 
lation. Then  go  back  and  read  all  over  more 
carefully. 

On  Sunday,  read  but  one  topic  (often  only  one 
verse)  in  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount — Jesus'  words 
to  His  young  (recent)  disciples.  Study  that  one 
topic  carefully.  Pray:  "Oh  God,  please  give  me 
this  (z.  e.,  poverty  of  spirit,  meekness,  etc.)  in  my 
heart  and  in  my  life,  for  Christ's  sake."] 

3.  Give  up  all  bad  companions. 

4.  Choose  good  ones — God's  children. 

5.  Work  for  Jesus — try   to  lead  some 
one  else  to  Him. 

Pages  two  and  three  contain  testimonies  from  child 
converts. 


122  The  Child  for  Christ 

The  Religious  Press 

now  is  printing  much  on  the  conversion, 
nurture  and  enlistment  of  children,  which 
the  alert  reader  will  find  very  stimulating 
and  helpful.  The  following  is  given  as  a 
specimen. 

One  of  the  Family. 

Dollie  wished  to  join  church,  and  it  was  a  keen  dis- 
appointment to  her  when  she  was  told  she  was  too 
young,  and  must  wait  a  few  years. 

Mamma  tried  to  explain  that  it  really  made  very  little 
difference,  that  she  could  love  and  follow  Christ  just  as 
well,  without  being  a  member  of  the  church  for  the 
present.  But  though  Dollie  was  used  to  yielding  her 
wishes  to  mamma's  judgment  when  the  two  did  not 
agree,  and  though  she  honestly  tried  with  all  her  might 
to  give  up  this  one  cheerfully,  she  could  not  help  feeling 
that  somehow  it  was  not  "  just  the  same." 

One  day  Dollie  and  her  cousin  Belle,  who  had  come 
from  New  York  to  make  her  a  long  visit,  and  Nannie 
Cole,  who  lived  next  door,  were  playing  together  on  the 
piazza,  when  a  strange  man  came  to  the  house.  He 
had  a  book  and  pencil,  and  he  asked  a  great  many 
questions  of  mamma,  writing  down  her  answers  as  she 
gave  them. 

The  little  girls  were  full  of  curiosity,  and  when  the 
man  was  gone  Dollie  asked  mamma  who  he  was. 

*'  He  is  the  census-taker,"  said  mamma.  Then  she 
explained  how  he  had  been  appointed  to  go  from  house 
to  house  and  find  out  just  how  many  people  lived  in 
each  one  and  in  the  whole  town,  and  how  this  was  done 


Bibliography  123 

in  all  cities  and  towns,  until  the  whole  population  of  the 
country  was  counted. 

This  was  very  interesting  to  DoUie. 

"  Did  he  count  me?  "  she  asked  eagerly. 

"  Certainly." 

"  I  was  afraid  I  was  too  little,"  she  said  in  a  tone  of 
relief.     "  You  are  sure  he  did  ?  " 

"  Yes,"     Mamma  could  not  help  smiling. 

"  Did  he  count  Nannie,  too  ?  " 

"  No ;  she  would  be  counted  with  Mrs.  Cole's 
family." 

«  Nor  Belle  ?  " 

"  No,  for  Belle  does  not  live  in  this  town." 

"  Oh !  "     Dollie's  eyes  were  big  with  interest. 

She  thought  a  great  deal  about  the  "  census  man  " 
during  the  rest  of  the  day.  At  bedtime  she  began  to 
talk  about  him  again. 

«•  He  counted  me  because  I  am  one  of  the  family, 
didn't  he,  mamma  ?  " 

"Yes," 

"  Did  he  have  to  count  me,  no  matter  how  little  I 


was 


«  Yes." 

Dollie's  face  grew  very  grave  and  thoughtful. 

"  I  wish  it  were  like  that  in  the  church,"  she  said, 
wistfully.  "  It  seems  as  if  I  ought  to  be  counted,  if 
I'm  one  of  the  family,  even  if  I  am  little.  Don't  you 
think  it  seems  so,  mamma?  " 

Somehow  mamma  was  beginning  to  think  so,  and  the 
more  she  thought  about  it  the  more  she  felt  that  Dollie 
ought  to  be  counted ;  for  she  had  been  observing  the 
little  girl  closely  during  these  weeks,  and  was  convinced 
that  she  was  indeed  "one  of  the  family."  She  became 
so  sure  of  it,  indeed,  that  the  very  next  Sabbath  the  name 
of  Dorothea  May  Tracy  was  added  to  the  list  of  church 


124         The  Child  for  Christ 

members,  and  mamma  was  as  glad  and  happy  as  Dollie 
herself. 

How  happy  that  was,  you  had  only  to  look  into  Dol- 
lie's  shining  eyes  to  know. — Mary  J.  Daniels^  in  West- 
ern Christian  Advocate. 

The  Sunday-school  Times,  The  Inter- 
national Evangel,  The  New  Century  Sun- 
day-school Teacher's  Monthly,  and  many 
of  the  denominational  publications  contain 
from  time  to  time,  articles  on  decision  day 
and  kindred  subjects. 

Our  Hymnology 
abounds  in  suggestions  that  will  be  helpful 
in  the  culture  of  the  young.  The  wise 
parent  and  teacher  will  make  use  of  what 
is  available  both  by  having  the  hymns  sung 
as  often  as  possible  and  by  having  some  of 
them  memorized.  The  following  is  a 
specimen: 

"  I  think  when  I  read  that  sweet  story  of  old, 
When  Jesus  was  here  among  men 
How  He  called  little  children  as  lambs  to  His  fold 
I  should  like  to  have  been  with  them  then. 

"  I  wish  that  His  hands  had  been  placed  on  my  head, 
That  His  arms  had  been  thrown  around  me, 
And  that  I  had  seen  His  kind  look  when  He  said  — 
*  Let  the  little  ones  come  unto  Me.' " 


Child  Culture  in  the  Home.   By  Martha  B.  Mosher.    12  mo, 

cloth,  $1.00. 

"  Rarely  has  so  helpful  a  book  on  the  moral  education  of  children 
appeared.  The  emotions,  the  senses,  the  will,  as  well  as  the  train- 
ing of  the  habits  of  the  child  and  methods  cf  training,  are  all  con- 
sidered."—7"^^  Outlook. 

"  It  is  written  in  a  clear,  straightforward  manner,  is  rich  in  sug- 
gestions and  illustrations,  and  is  thoroughly  wholesome  in  counsel." 
— Cumberland  Presbyterian. 

Studies  in  Home  and  Child-Life.    By  Mrs.  S.  M.  I.  Henry. 

Eighth  thousand^  i2mo,  cloth,  $1.00. 

*'  It  is  clear,  concise  and  vigorous  throughout,  and  has  the  charm 
of  Mother  love  and  God  love  from  first  to  last.  We  cannot  conceive 
of  a  more  helpful  manual  than  this  would  be  in  the  hands  of  young 
parents,  and  indeed  of  all  who  have  to  do  with  children.' —7',^^ 
Union  Signal. 

"  The  book  is  one  we  can  heartily  commend  to  every  father  and 
mother  to  read  and  re-read,  and  ponder  over  and  read  again."—  The 
Observer. 

Child  Culture  %  or,  The  Science  of  Motherhood.    By  Mrs. 

Hannah  Whitall  Smith,    ^d    edition^    i6mo,    decorated 

boards,  30  cents. 

*'  We  have  read  nothing  from  the  pen  of  this  gifted  woman  which 
we  have  more  enjoyed  than  this  wisely-written  booklet,  as  spiritual 
as  it  is  practical,  and  as  full  of  common  sense  as  of  exalted  sentiment. 
Any  mother  having  prayerfully  read  this  heart  message  of  a  true 
■woman  will  be  a  better  mother.''''— Cumberland  Presbyterian. 

The  Children  for  Christ.     By  Rev.  Andrew  Murray,  D.D. 

Thoughts  for  Christian  Parents  on  the  Consecration  of  the 

Home  Life.     i2mo,  cloth,  $1.00. 

"The  author  seems  to  have  had  a  Divine  vocation  in  writing 
this  book,  and  thousands  of  parents  ought  to  derive  blessings  from 
it  for  their  children."— 7"/;^  Evangelist. 

Home  Duties.     Practical  Talks  on  the  Amenities  of  the 

Home.     By  Rev.  R.  T.  Cross.     i2mo,  paper,  15  cents; 

cloth,  30  cents,  net. 

Contents:    Duties  of  Husbands.    Duties  of  Wives.     Duties 

of  Parents.     Duties  of  Children.    Duties  of  Brothers  and  Sisters. 

The  Duty  of  Family  Worship.    The  Method  of  Family  Worship. 

A  Home  for  Every  Family  and  How  to  Get  It. 

"A  model  of  what  can  be  done  in  so  brief  a  space."— r^^ 
Inde/>endent. 

Fleming  H.  Revell  Company 

New  York  :  158  Fifth  Avenue        Chicago  :  63  Washington  Street 
Toronto  :  154  Yonge  Street 


For  Work  Among  Children 


Practical  Primary  Plans»  For  Sabbath  School  Teachers. 
By  Israel  P.  Black.    Illustrated  with  diagrams.    i6mo,  cloth, 

$I.OO. 

Object  Lessons   for  Junior  Work.     Practical  Suggestions, 

Object  Lessons,  and  Picture  Stories.    By  Ella  N.  Wood.    i6mo, 
cloth,  with  designs  and  illustrations,  50  cents. 

The  Children's  Prayer.  By  Rev.  James  Wells,  D.D. 
Addresses  to  the  Young  on  the  Lord's  Prayer.  i6mo,  cloth, 
75  cents. 

Bible  Stories  Without  Names.  By  Rev.  Harry  Smith,  M.  A. 
With  questions  at  the  end  of  each  chapter  and  the  answers  in  a 
separate  booklet.     i6mo,  cloth,  75  cents. 

Object  Lessons  for  Children;  or,  Hooks  and  Eyes,  Truth 
Linked  to  Sight.  Illustrated.  By  Rev.  C.  H.  Tyndall,  Ph.D., 
A.M.    2d  edition.     12010,  cloth,  $1.25. 

Attractive  Truths  in  Lesson  and  Story.  By  Mrs.  A.  M. 
Scudder.  Introduction  by  Rev.  F.  E.  Clark,  D.D.  3d  thou- 
sand.   8vo,  cloth,  $1.25. 

Pictured  Truth,  A  Handbook  of  Blackboard  and  Object 
Teaching.  By  Rev.  R.  F.  Y.  Pierce.  Introduction  by  R.  H. 
Con  well,  D.D.  With  illustrations  by  the  author.  3d  thousand. 
i2mo,  cloth,  $1.25. 

Children's  Meetings,  and  How  to  Conduct  Them.  By 
Lucy  J.  Rider  and  Nellie  M.  Carman.  Introduction  by  Bishop 
J.  H.  Vincent.  Cloth,  illustrated,  net^  $1.00;  paper  covers,  «<?/, 
50  cents. 

Talks  to  Children.  By  Rev.  T.  T.  Eaton,  D.D.,  with 
introduction  by  Rev.  John  A.  Broadus,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  i6mo, 
cloth,  $1.00. 

Conversion  of  Children.  By  Rev.  E.  P.  Hammond.  A 
practical  volume,  replete  with  incident  and  illustration.  Sug- 
gestive, important,  and  timely.  C-loth,  75  cents,  paper  cover, 
30  cents. 

Gospel  Pictures   and   Story  Sermons   for   Children.     By 

Major  D.  W.  Whittle.     Profusely  illustrated.    4^th  thousand, 
i2mo,  cloth,  30  cents,  net  ;  paper,  15  cents. 

Seed  for  Spring-time  Sowing.  A  Wall  Roll  tor  the  use  of 
Primary,  Sabbath  School  and  Kindergarten  Teachers.  Com- 
piled by  Mrs.  Robert  Pratt.     75  cents. 


Fleming  H»  Revell  Company 

New  York  :  158  Fifth  Avenue         Chicago  :  63  Washington  Street 
Toronto  :  154  Yonge  Street 


Sunday-ScHool 
Movements 
in  America 

By  Marianna  C.  Bro"wn 

i2mo,  cloth,  $1.25 


"  It  has  the  scholarly  order  and  point  natural  to  such  a  treatise, 
and  is  one  of  the  very  best  things  that  has  yet  been  written  on  the 
subject  of  Sunday-school  improvement.  The  first  part  of  the  volume 
is  historical,  tracing  the  growth  of  American  Sunday-schools  in  the 
various  denominations  and  outside,  and  the  second  part  is  theoretical, 
dealing  with  the  possibilities  of  improvement  in  the  courses  of  instruc- 
tion and  in  the  training  of  teachers.  We  are  greatly  cheered  at  seeing 
the  stress  laid  by  the  author  on  the  moral  and  spiritual  aims  of  the 
Sunday-school  ....  Both  the  spirit  and  the  substance  of  this 
volume  we  heartily  commend  to  Sunday-school  workers." — The  Ad, 


"An  original  study  of  the  historical  development  and  present 
status  of  Sunday-schools  of  all  denominations.  The  first  eight  chap- 
ters are  given  to  the  uncolored  history  and  description  of  the  growth 
and  progress  of  Sunday-school  movements,  and  the  conclusion,  of 
some  sixty  pages,  is  a  summing  up  of  present-day  problems  and 
methods  from  the  point  of  view  of  the  trained  educator.  This,  of 
course,  is  the  really  significant  part  of  the  book,  and  is  a  fresh  and 
valuable  essay  on  Sunday-school  theory,  emphasizing  the  distinctly 
modern  pedagogical  conception  of  the  correlation  of  studies.  The 
Sunday-school,  Miss  Brown  maintains— and  the  most  progressive 
thinkers  are  with  her— should  be  considered  part  of  the  American 
educational  system,  and  should  be  given  organization  and  methods 
which  will  stand  comparison  with  our  other  educational  institutions. 
These  are  high  ideals,  and  such  a  discussion  as  this  regarding  the 
methods  of  their  attainment  is  worthy  of  the  most  careful  considera- 
tion,"— Christian  Advocate. 

Fleming    H.    Revell    Company,    PublisHers 
New    VorK,     138     FiftH     >Vvenvie 
CKicago,  e>3   "Washington   Street 
Toronto,  27  RicHmond  St.,  "West 


Date  Due 

i  -"v 

ni 

, 

(|) 

